Fascia iliaca block for hip fractures in the emergency department: meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis

Background: Fascia iliaca block (FICB) has been used to reduce pain and its impact on geriatric patients with hip fractures. Objective: We conducted this meta-analysis to investigate the analgesic efficacy of this block in comparison to standard of care (SOC) when performed by non-anesthesiologist in the emergency department. Methods: Search on PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, Google Scholar and Cochrane database for randomized and quasi-randomized trials were performed. The primary outcome was to compare pain relief at rest at 2–4 h. The pain relief at various time intervals, reduction in opioid use, the incidence of nausea/ vomiting, delirium and length of hospital stay were the secondary outcomes studied. Trial Sequential Analysis (TSA) was performed for the primary outcome. Results: Eleven trials comprising 895 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Patients receiving FICB had significant better pain relief at rest at 2–4 h with mean difference of 1.59 (95% CI, 0.59–2.59, p = 0.002) with I² = 96%. However, the certainty of the evidence was low and TSA showed that the sample size could not reach the requisite information size. A significant difference in pain relief at rest and on movement started within 30 min and lasted till 4 h of the block. Use of FICB was associated with a significant reduction in post-procedure parenteral opioid consumption, nausea and vomiting and length of hospital stay. Conclusions: FICB is associated with significant pain relief both at rest and on movement lasting up to 4 h as well as a reduction in opioid requirement and associated nausea and vomiting in geriatric patients with hip fracture. However, the quality of evidence is low and additional trials are necessary.