The pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block for hip surgery. A narrative review

Abstract

Introduction. Perioperative pain management associated with hip surgery is challenging. The pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block is a new technique thought to provide better postoperative analgesia in addition to its motor-sparing effects. Aim. This review aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the PENG blockade in managing postoperative pain in patients undergoing hip surgery. Methods. The literature was reviewed through four electronic databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and Embase. Results. The initial search yielded 416 articles. Twenty-seven relevant articles were selected based on relevance, recentness, search quality, and citations. Twelve of the studies were related to patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty. Twelve studies were related to patients undergoing total hip surgery due to hip fracture. Finally, three studies were related to patients undergoing hip arthroscopy. Conclusions. The PENG block provides superior analgesia and low opioid consumption in the first postoperative period. However, current evidence is insufficient, and there is a need for high-quality randomized, controlled trials with larger sample sizes.