Ultrasound-guided pericapsular nerve group block and genicular nerve alcohol neurolysis in hip and knee pain due to osteoarthritis and following total joint replacement surgery: A preliminary study.

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of pericapsular nerve group block (PENG) and genicular neurolysis performed with ethyl alcohol in the management of pain associated with hip or knee osteoarthritis or persistent postoperative pain following arthroplasty.

Patients and methods: Between October 2023 and June 2024, a total of 89 ambulatory adult patients (70 males, 19 females; median age: 75.5 [IQR: 62.6 to 81.3] years; range: 46.7 to 92.8 years) who visited our pain clinic were retrospectively analyzed. The PENG or genicular nerve neurolysis was performed as appropriate using ethyl alcohol. Median and maximum level of pain according to patient self-report was registered before and after the interventions.

Results: A total of 33 patients presenting with hip pain and 56 patients presenting with knee pain were treated. Considering the reported median pain, the median intensity reduced from 7.5 to 3.5 for hip pain, whereas in the knee group the median intensity of pain was 7.0 before the intervention and 3.0 after the procedure. The median intensity of reported maximal pain reduced from 10 to 6.8 for the hip, and from 8.8 to 6.5 for the knee pain.

Conclusion: Alcoholic neurolysis offers a promising, cost-effective new approach for the management of pain in the absence of radiofrequency. It provides sustained pain relief until surgical arthroplasty of the hip or knee joint and is also beneficial in the management of persistent pain following surgery or for patients who are ineligible for surgical intervention.