Effect of Ultrasound-Guided Fascia Iliac Compartment Block on Serum NLRP3 and Inflammatory Factors in Patients with Femoral Intertrochanteric Fracture

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of ultrasound-guided fascia iliac compartment block (FICB) on patients' postoperative pain and inflammatory factors as well as nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat (NLR) family, pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) in femoral intertrochanteric fracture. METHODS: This single-blind randomized controlled study included 231 patients with femoral intertrochanteric fracture treated in our hospital from January 2017 to December 2020. All patients were randomized into two groups, the FICB group (n = 116) and the general anesthesia group (control group, n = 115). The serum NLRP3 levels and inflammatory factors were evaluated. The heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and SpO(2) values were recorded. Pain condition was measured by the visual analogue scale (VAS) score. Harris score was performed for positive hip function. RESULTS: The values of HR and MAP were significantly lower after anesthesia induction in FICB groups compared with the control group. However, no significant difference was found for SpO(2). Compared with the control group, the VAS scores within 72 h after surgery were all markedly lower in the FICB group than in the control group and showed no significant difference at 1 week after surgery. The levels of NLRP3 and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were significantly lower in FICB patients at 1 h, 6 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after surgery compared with the control group. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) showed a significant lower level in the FICB group at 1 h and 6 h after surgery, and significant lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) were found at 1 h and 24 h after surgery compared with the control group. Positive correlation was found between NLRP3 and IL-6, as well as CRP and VAS scores after 1 h of the surgery. No significant difference was found for both Harris score and postoperative complications between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Fascia iliac compartment block could reduce the postoperative pain, which might be associated with the decrease of the serum levels of NLRP3, CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α in femoral intertrochanteric fracture patients.