Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a frequent problem that is treated with open hip surgery, which is associated with severe postoperative pain. Caudal and lumbar plexus blocks are the most common regional blocks, which are advanced techniques (1). Pericapusllar nerve group (PENG) block is a novel block that targets articular branches of the accessory obturator nerve and femoral nerve, which has been shown to have a major role in the innervation of the hip capsule (2). In this case series, we describe our experience with the PENG block in 5 pediatric patients with DDH.

Five patients aged between 10 and 20 months who scheduled for DDH surgery was taken to operating theatre. PENG block was performed following general anesthesia induction. Using linear probe, 50 mm needle was inserted from lateral to medial with an in-plane approach, and 0.5 mL.kg^-1 0.25% bupivacaine was injected in the space between the psoas tendon and the iliopubic eminence. At the end of the surgery, the patients received 15 mg.kg⁻¹iv paracetamol, and FLACC score was used for assessing the pain.

All patients’ FLACC scores were between 0 and 2 in the first 24 h period. Two patients were treated with paracetamol at postoperative 8th and 10th h. No other analgesic drug was used during the first 24 h.

This case series showed that PENG block provided effective postoperative analgesia and provided pain-free period after DDH surgery without the need of opioids. However, we think that future randomized controlled trials are needed.