Ultrasound‐guided femoral nerve block and intravenous fentanyl in pain management of the patients with hip fracture: a prospective, randomized, single blinded clinical trial

AIM: Proximal femoral fracture is a painful condition. Pain alleviation is a treatment cornerstone to both comfort the patient and reduce adverse effects. This study aimed to evaluate and compare ultrasound‐guided femoral nerve block and intravenous fentanyl administration in relieving the pain of patients with hip fractures. METHODS: The present interventional clinical trial was conducted on 40 patients referred to Shahid‐Bahonar Hospital with unilateral isolated proximal femur fracture and American Society of Anesthesiologists I and II. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: intravenous fentanyl and ultrasound‐guided femoral nerve block for pain management. Pain severity was assessed by a numerical rating scale before and after the intervention in both groups and the groups were then compared. RESULTS: Forty patients were enrolled in to study; 27 (67.5%) were male. There was no significant difference in demographic variables between the two groups. Fourteen (35%) were older than 80 years. Pain significantly decreased three scores compared to the pre‐intervention level in both groups (95% confidence interval, 2–4). This was slightly higher in the femoral nerve block group. The largest strength of association for age and numerical rating scale of pain was found in the differences between the pre‐intervention and after‐intervention in femoral nerve block group (r = −0.775, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: We found similar pain severity between the two groups. Considering the possible side effects of fentanyl, an ultrasound‐guided femoral nerve block shows may provide safer pain control and may be particularly suitable for patients with opioid dependence.