Hip fractures (broken hips) are common in older people, particularly older women with fragile
bones, and usually occur with a simple fall from a standing height. In Canada, over 28,000
hip fractures occur every year, and approximately 900 occur in Edmonton. After a hip
fracture, up to 50% of those who survive their hip fracture do not recover to the same level
of activity that they had before breaking their hip. Managing pain with any broken bone is
very important. For patients with hip fracture, their older age and fragile health makes pain
management even more challenging. Many patients with a hip fracture have reduced ability to
think clearly before the fracture. Some patients who have no difficulty with thinking before
their hip fracture will become confused for a brief period after their hip fracture or can
develop permanent difficulties with thinking. A hip fracture will usually require an
operation, and choosing the right pain medication before and after the operation is important
since many pain medications make confusion more likely. Permanent difficulty with thinking is
a common reason for poor recovery after hip fracture. Our study will look at use of a nerve
block to manage pain before patients have their operation. A nerve block provides local pain
relief without requiring patients to take the medication by mouth (oral) or through an
intravenous (IV) route. A nerve block before surgery may reduce the amount of oral and IV
pain medication needed by the patient both before and after their operation but still provide
good pain control with less confusion. This could lead to better recovery and allow more
patients to return to living in the community rather than long-term care.
Phase:
N/A
Details
Lead Sponsor:
University of Alberta
Treatments:
Anesthetics Anesthetics, Local Bupivacaine Ropivacaine