The New THA Guidelines: Why Periarticular Injections Beat Regional Nerve Blocks

A comprehensive review by five major orthopedic societies establishes that periarticular local anesthetic infiltration should be the first-line defense against THA pain

The American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS), The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), The Hip Society, The Knee Society, and The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA) have worked together to develop evidence-based guidelines on the use of regional nerve blocks in primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). The purpose of these guidelines is to improve the treatment of orthopedic surgical patients and reduce practice variation by promoting a multidisciplinary, evidence-based approach to the use of regional nerve blocks following primary THA.