Teaching the Ultrasound-Guided Fascia Iliaca Block to Emergency Medicine Residents: A Brief Educational Intervention

The ultrasound-guided fascia iliaca block (FIB) has become an increasingly valuable skill in emergency medicine (EM) for managing acute pain in patients with hip and femur fractures. Despite its clinical utility, formal instruction on this block remains limited in EM training programs. This educational innovation describes a brief educational intervention (BEI) designed to teach EM residents the anatomy, technique, and indications for the ultrasound-guided FIB.

This novel curriculum combined an asynchronous pre-learning module with a focused simulation-based hands-on session. The asynchronous module included a 13-min instructional video as well as a pre- and post-test assessing knowledge of anatomy, indications, contraindications, and procedural steps. The in-person workshop consisted of residents rotating through hands-on ultrasound scanning stations to identify normal sonoanatomy and practice needle guidance using homemade ballistic gelatin models. A final course examination was given, as well as a post-course survey.

A total of 15 EM residents at a university-based level I trauma center completed the program. Mean knowledge assessment scores improved from 58.9% pre-intervention to 78.4% post-intervention (p<0.01). On the post-course survey, of the nine residents who responded (60% response rate), all reported improved confidence and preparedness in performing ultrasound-guided FIBs.

This brief, reproducible, low-resource curriculum represents a feasible and effective strategy to integrate regional anesthesia training into EM residency ultrasound curricula.