Postoperative analgesic effects of the quadratus lumborum block III and transversalis fascia plane block in paediatric patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip undergoing open reduction surgeries: a double-blinded randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the analgesic effectiveness of two novel regional nerve blocks in paediatric patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) after open reduction surgeries. DESIGN Prospective, double-blinded, randomised controlled trial. SETTING 2 tertiary teaching hospitals in China between August 2017 and July 2018. PARTICIPANTS 110 paediatric patients aged 2-10 years with DDH undergoing open reduction surgeries were recruited, 95 were randomised and 90 were included in the final analysis. INTERVENTIONS Random assignment to quadratus lumborum block III (QLB III) group, transversalis fascia plane block (TFPB) group and the control (no region nerve block) group. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability (FLACC) Scale Scores. Secondary outcomes included perioperative opioid consumption, the time until first press of nurse-controlled analgesia/patient-controlled analgesia (NCA/PCA) pump and the total counts number of pressing, length of postanaesthesia care unit (PACU) stay, length of hospital stay, parental satisfaction with pain management and adverse events. RESULTS Mean FLACC Scores were significantly lower in QLB III group and TFPB group while in the PACU and for 48 hours postoperatively, compared with control group (p<0.0001, p<0.0001, respectively). No differences were found for FLACC Scores between QLB III group and TFPB group, neither at rest (p=0.0402) nor while posture changing (p=0.0306). TFPB prolonged the first-time request for NCA/PCA analgesia, and decreased the total number of pressing counts, compared with QLB III (22.5 (16.2 to 28.7) vs 11.7 (6.6 to 16.8), p<0.0001; 2.4 (1.3 to 3.6) vs 3.8 (2.8 to 4.8), p=0.0111, respectively). No patient experienced any adverse events. CONCLUSIONS We suggested that both ultrasound-guided QLB III and TFPB should be considered as an option for perioperative analgesia in children with DDH undergoing open reduction surgeries. TFPB was superior to the QLB III because it prolonged the first-time request for NCA/PCA analgesia and decreased the total counts number of pressing. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT03189966/2017.