Blocking the pericapsular nerve group against the lumbar erector spinae plane for pain management following total hip replacement: A randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT Background: Both the pericapsular nerve group block (PENG) and the lumbar erector spinae plane block (L-ESPB) are emerging regional anesthetic techniques, yet comparative data remain limited. Patients and Methods: This randomized, controlled study included 60 patients undergoing THA, assigned to receive either a PENG block ( n = 30) or an L-ESPB ( n = 30). The primary outcome was the time to the first analgesic request. Secondary outcomes included total analgesic consumption, pain scores measured by the numeric rating scale (NRS) at rest and during movement, assessment of quadriceps motor strength, and any block-related complications. All participants were administered a standardized multimodal analgesic protocol.