The relationship between the orientation of the lateral decubitus position for spinal anesthesia and positioning pain in patients with a femoral neck fracture: randomized non-inferiority trial.

Background: To date, no clinical studies have investigated the relationship between positioning pain and orientation of the lateral decubitus position for hip fracture surgery. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that performing spinal anesthesia in the lateral decubitus position with the fracture side up or down does not affect positioning pain in patients with a femoral neck fracture.

Methods: This single-center, prospective, randomized non-inferiority trial examined 78 patients who received surgery for a femoral neck fracture under spinal anesthesia.