PENG blocks for hip fractures, and a closer look at procedural sedation for kids: Primary Survey September 2026

Hip fractures for older people are often severely painful. But, the common treatments like intravenous opioids can cause adverse effects like nausea and delirium. We discuss a new RCT that tests intravenous morphine vs. an ultrasound-guided block of the pericapsular nerve group (PENG), finding the PENG block to be a highly effective and safe alternative. We talk about the ten research priorities for paediatric emergency medicine distilled down by a mixed group of patients, carers, and healthcare professionals.

Paediatrics sticks around with a Delphi approach study that delivers another ten pressing research questions for better ways to procedurally sedate kids. And, from the North West of England, we hear about a trial of reflective practice (Balint) groups with protected clinical time for resident doctors in emergency medicine training.

• Refreshing the paediatric emergency medicine research priorities across the UK and Ireland
• Ultrasound-guided pericapsular nerve group block versus intravenous morphine for pain management in older adults with hip fractures: a randomised controlled trial in the emergency department
• Research priorities for paediatric procedural sedation in emergency medicine
• Qualitative study of reflective practice groups for emergency medicine resident doctors

The EMJ podcast is hosted by:

Prof. Richard Body, EMJ Editor-in-Chief, University of Manchester, UK (@richardbody) Dr. Sarah Edwards, EMJ Senior Associate Editor and Social Media Editor, Royal Derby Hospital, UK (@drsarahedwards)

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