The effect of preoperative pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block on postoperative opioid consumption, postoperative analgesia, and clinical recovery in hip surgery

Effective analgesia methods are critical, especially in the geriatric population, as they significantly impact severe perioperative pain, morbidity, and mortality in patients with hip fractures. This study aimed to investigate the effects of preoperatively administered Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block on postoperative opioid consumption, time to first analgesic request, and clinical recovery in patients undergoing hip surgery. A total of 61 patients aged 18-80 years with ASA I-III physical status scheduled for elective hip surgery were included in the study. The patients were randomly allocated to two groups using a closed envelope method: one group received only spinal anesthesia (control group), and the other received spinal anesthesia combined with PENG block (PENG group). All patients were hemodynamically monitored intraoperatively. Postoperative pain scores (NRS), time to first analgesic request and consumption, time to first ambulation, and length of hospital stay were recorded. The results showed that the PENG group had lower postoperative pain scores and reduced opioid consumption. Furthermore, patients in this group demonstrated better hemodynamic stability, earlier mobilization, and accelerated clinical recovery. In conclusion, the PENG block has been shown to be a safe and effective analgesia method for hip surgery. Keywords: PENG block, hip surgery, spinal anesthesia, pain score, opioid consumption.