Western Journal of Emergency Medicine: Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health

Femur fractures typically affect elderly patients with multiple co-morbidities. Pain control can be difficult, requiring intensive nursing and physician care as elderly patients may manifest cardiovascular and respiratory complications from opiate administration. Ultrasound (US) guided three-in-one (3-in-1) femoral nerve block (FNB) is an option for pain management in patients with femur fractures, as it provides regional anesthesia to the femoral, obturator and lateral cutaneous nerves. Our goal is to provide medical education regarding the use of US guided 3-in-1FNB as a rapid and easy procedure that may provide optimal patient care in patients with femur fractures. [West J Emerg Med. 2010; 11(4):310-313.]