Hematoma Block Verses General Anesthesia for Close Reduction and Percutaneous Pinning of Distal Radius Fractures in Elderly Patients

Objective: The objective of our study is to compare two techniques used for analgesia, hematoma block and general anaesthesia, in patients presented with a fracture of the distal radius in the trauma centre of Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Hospital Gujrat. Methods: Our study was conducted at the Trauma Centre of Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Hospital Gujrat from January 2021 to April 2023. All the patients having distal radius fractures who met the inclusion criteria were included in our study. The patients were placed into two groups, A and B. All the patients were treated by close reduction and percutaneous pinning. The analgesia method used in group A was Hematoma block while in group B was general anesthesia. Data was analyzed using SPSS. Results: 156 patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 61.3 ± 6.6 years. These patients were placed in two groups, A and B, of 78 patients each. There was significantly less pain intensity at 2 and 6 hours after the procedure in the hematoma block group (P < 0.001). Duration for manipulation did not differ significantly between the two groups. Duration for surgery was significantly shorter for the hematoma block group (P 0.02). In 100 per cent of cases, anatomical reduction was achieved in both groups. Conclusion: Hematoma block used as analgesia for the management of fractures of the distal radius in elderly patients is a more effective and safe method than general anaesthesia in emergency trauma centres. Keywords: Hematoma block, distal radius fracture, elderly.