Comparison of pre- and intra-operative analgesia of fascia Iliaca compartment block in reducing post-operative delirium of elderly patients following hip fractures: a retrospective study
摘要
Hip fractures significantly impact the physiological and psychological well-being of elderly patients. Post-operative delirium (POD) is a common complication after hip fractures in this population, severely affecting treatment outcomes and recovery. Effective pain management during the peri-operative period is crucial for reducing POD, yet the best analgesic approach remains debated.
MethodsA retrospective study (from January 2015 to December 2020) included 198 elderly hip fracture patients who received preoperative (PO-) or intraoperative (IO-) fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) with 50 mL of 0.25% ropivacaine. Over the first 3 days (assessed every 24 h), cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE]), pain intensity (Visual Analog Scale [VAS]), and systemic inflammatory mediators (CRP, IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α) were evaluated. Postoperative delirium (POD) incidence was daily assessed via the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) for 72 h by a trained surgeon. Statistical analyses included intergroup comparisons of MMSE/VAS scores and inflammatory markers; cumulative POD incidence was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves. Normally distributed data were compared via independent-samples t-test, and categorical data (expressed as percentages) via chi-square (χ²) test.
ResultsPatients were allocated to two groups: PO-FICB (n = 100) and IO-FICB (n = 98). Postoperatively, the PO-FICB group had significantly higher MMSE scores on days 1–3 (27.85 ± 1.923, 27.49 ± 2.807, 27.23 ± 1.698 vs. 25.80 ± 1.864, 25.73 ± 2.197, 22.57 ± 2.128; all P < 0.01) and lower levels of inflammatory mediators (CRP, IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α; all P < 0.05). VAS pain scores were lower in the PO-FICB group (1.58 ± 0.702, 2.26 ± 0.647, 2.40 ± 0.492 vs. 2.70 ± 0.659, 3.02 ± 0.853, 2.33 ± 0.620), with significant differences on days 1–2 (P < 0.0001) but not day 3 (P = 0.068). POD incidence was significantly lower in the PO-FICB group (5% [5/100]) than in the IO-FICB group (15.3% [15/98]; P = 0.0168). No severe complications or mortality were observed during 12-month follow-up.
ConclusionCompared with IO-FICB, PO-FICB may confer more targeted analgesia and is associated with a lower incidence of POD in elderly hip fracture patients. These associations might relate to PO-FICB’s potential early effects of inhibiting inflammation and exerting putative neuroprotective-like actions, which are consistent with current multimodal perioperative management strategies and geriatric neuroprotective concepts. This finding provides preliminary support for considering PO-FICB as a viable option in perioperative regional anesthesia selection for this patient population.