How effective is periarticular drug infiltration in providing pain relief and early functional outcome following total hip arthroplasty?

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of periarticular injection of a cocktail of analgesic drugs (PIC) with epidural infiltration (EA), in providing postoperative pain relief and early functional improvement following Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA).

Methods: 50 patients undergoing unilateral THA were randomized to receive either EA or PIC for postoperative pain control. Postoperative pain relief, as determined by the visual analogue scale (VAS), functional recovery and side effects related to EA and PIC were assessed.