Background and aims: The use of systemic analgesics for pain treatment in elderly patients with hip fractures is often followed with side-effects and can delay surgery. Contrary, fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) is safe and simple to use, with rapid onset of pain relief, without causing major side-effects. 
The aim of this study was to investigate the role of FICB as preoperative analgesia in elderly patients with hip fractures and to compare it with the use of conventional parenteral analgesics.
Methods: This was a prospective-retrospective study performed on the elderly patients (older than 65) who were admitted and treated for hip fracture in Clinical Center of Vojvodina in Novi Sad, Serbia, from January-June 2018. Patients were divided into two groups: a FICB group (n=30; patients receiving FICB) and a control group (n=30; patients receiving systemic analgesia). Outcome measures were pain scores (NPRS - numerical pain rating scale) from admission to after the analgesic treatment, and complications.
Results: Predominant gender in both groups was female. Average age in FICB group was 80 years, and in control group was 78,5 years. According to ASA physical status classification most of the patients in both groups were classified as ASA 3E class. Average pain scores according to NPRS, before receiving analgesics, were 8.33 in FICB group, and 8.56 in control group. The pain scores were significantly lower (p=0.000) in patients receiving FICB as preoperative analgesia. There was significant difference (p=0.000) between the two groups in pain scores after the analgesic treatment. There were no complications in FICB group and 2 cases of acute psycho-organic syndrome in control group. 
Conclusion: FICB is an effective and safe way of providing preoperative analgesia for elderly patients with hip fractures, which is not followed with major side-effects.

THE ROLE OF FASCIA ILIACA COMPARTMENT BLOCK AS PREOPERATIVE ANALGESIA IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH HIP FRACTURES