Periosteal Block Versus Intravenous Regional Anesthesia for Reduction of Distal Radius Fractures: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: We compare periosteal block and intravenous regional anesthesia (IVRA) as anesthetic techniques for reduction of distal radius fractures when performed by emergency department (ED) clinicians following brief training.

Methods: This was a single-center, nonblinded randomized controlled trial of a convenience sample of patients presenting with distal radius fractures requiring closed reduction. Primary outcome measure was patient reported fracture reduction pain score, rated on a 100-mm visual analog scale. Secondary outcomes included adjunct pain medication use, ED length of stay, remanipulation rates, participant satisfaction, clinician assessed efficacy, and clinician-assessed ease of the procedure.

Results: Eighty-one patients were randomized to receive IVRA (n = 41) or periosteal block (N = 40). Reduction pain scores were not normally distributed. Median (25th-75th percentile) pain scores in participants assigned to IVRA and periosteal block were 5 (1-27.5) and 26 (8.5-63) mm, respectively, (p = 0.007). Use of adjunct medications during reduction was higher for the periosteal block group compared with IVRA (57.5% vs. 22.5%, p = 0.003). Remanipulation rates were 17.5% for periosteal block versus 7.5% for IVRA (p = 0.31). There was no difference in length of stay, patient satisfaction, or clinician's assessed ease of the anesthetic technique. There was a difference in clinician's assessment of efficacy between groups, with IVRA described as "extremely effective" by 65% and periosteal block described as "extremely effective" by 25% (p = 0.003).

Conclusions: When performed by a diverse group of ED clinicians periosteal block provided inferior analgesia to IVRA but may provide an alternative when IVRA cannot be performed.