Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) Block in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Hip and Pelvic Surgical Procedures: An Educational Focused Review.

Abstract

Hip disorders in infants and children may result from congenital, infectious, developmental, inflammatory, neoplastic, and traumatic etiologies. Postoperative pain management associated with hip pathologies can be challenging especially due to complex innervation of the hip and surrounding structures. Given the adverse effect profile of systemic opioids, regional anesthesia offers an excellent alternative with more beneficial adverse effect profile. Various peripheral regional anesthetic techniques have been reported with variable results regarding analgesia and differing adverse effect profiles. The pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block is a novel motor-sparing regional anesthetic technique where the local anesthetic agent is deposited in the musculofascial plane between the psoas tendon and the pubic ramus. The main target is the genicular branches of the femoral, obturator, and accessory obturator nerve, which innervate the hip capsule. The anatomy involved with PENG block is reviewed and previous reports of PENG block in pediatric-aged patients, including single shot or continuous catheter techniques, are reviewed.