Chemical ablation of pericapsular nerve group with 95% ethanol for pain relief and quality of life in patients with hip osteoarthritis: a prospective, double-blinded, randomised, controlled trial
Authors' conclusion
Ultrasound-guided ethanol neurolysis of the PENG is a safe and effective intervention for chronic hip pain, providing long-term relief and reducing opioid dependency.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with chronic hip pain from osteoarthritis unresponsive to conservative treatments (median age 82 yr [IQR 74–89]; 49% male)
- Participants
- 100 patients
- Comparison
- Ultrasound-guided 95% ethanol pericapsular nerve group (PENG) neurolysis vs sham procedure
- Ethanol neurolysisn = 50
- Shamn = 50reference
- Primary endpoint
- Pain intensity (NRS)
- Follow-up
- 7 days, 30 days, 3 months, and 6 months
Methodological detailsdouble-blinded, single-centre, sham-controlled
- Double-blinded
- Single-centre
- Sham-controlled
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
all follow-ups
- Ethanol neurolysis significantly reduced NRS scores at all follow-ups
- P<0.0001
- Mean NRS at baseline, sd
- 6.0 (sd 0.9)
- Mean NRS at 7 days, sd
- 3.1 (0.8)
- Mean NRS at 30 days, sd
- 2.9 (0.7)
- Mean NRS at 3 months, sd
- 2.8 (0.7)
- Mean NRS at 6 months, sd
- 3.0 (0.7)
Secondary outcomes
- Opioid consumption (oral morphine equivalents) · 7 days — Lower in the neurolysis group, median [IQR], neurolysis vs sham
- 1.5 [0.5-3.5] mg vs 11.5 [9.1-13.7] mg · P = 0.002
Opioid consumption (oral morphine equivalents) · 7 days
- Opioid consumption remained reduced through 6 months
Quality of life (EQ-5D-5L)
- Quality of life improved significantly
- P < 0.0001
Safety
- No neurological deficits observed
Original publication
Chemical ablation of pericapsular nerve group with 95% ethanol for pain relief and quality of life in patients with hip osteoarthritis: a prospective, double-blinded, randomised, controlled trial. Br J Anaesth. Published 6 June 2025. doi:10.
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