The effects of transmuscular quadratus lumborum blocks on postoperative pain in arthroscopic hip surgery: a cohort analysis

Abstract

The Transmuscular Quadratus Lumborum block (TQLB) is one of the newest blocks and has been used as an effective analgesic option for various surgeries. However, it is still uncertain whether the TQLB provides beneficial analgesic outcomes for hip arthroscopic surgeries. Therefore, we aimed to investigate effects of the preoperative TQLB on postoperative pain levels and perioperative opioid consumption in patients who underwent outpatient arthroscopic hip surgery. In this retrospective cohort study, patients who underwent arthroscopic hip surgery for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) between June 1, 2017 and December 1, 2017 were included. All patients received general anesthesia for surgery. Two groups of patients were compared: (1) patients who received a preoperative TQLB, (2) patients who did not receive a TQLB. Seventy procedures (68 patients) were included in the study. Of these, 15 procedures (15 patients) received a preoperative TQLB (TQLB group) in addition to general anesthesia, whereas the other 55 procedures (54 patients) received general anesthesia only (control group). Highest pain scores in the PACU were similar in the TQLB (6.2) group versus the control group (5.6) (95% CI [Formula: see text] 2.08 to 0.99, p = 0.484). Pain scores decreased over time in both groups and there were no statistical differences in mean values or absolute risk differences between study groups (95% CI [Formula: see text] 0.19 to 0.33, P = 0.596). In addition, there were no significant differences in perioperative opioid consumption, length of PACU stay, or the need for a rescue block in the PACU between the two groups. The present study did not find the preoperative TQLB to be an effective analgesic technique for patients who underwent arthroscopic hip surgery for FAI. A randomized clinical trial may further validate these results.