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A comparison of two approaches to sciatic nerve block
Author(s) -
Kilpatrick A. W. A.,
Coventry D. M.,
Todd J. G.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1992.tb02018.x
Subject(s) - medicine , sciatic nerve , block (permutation group theory) , nerve block , anatomy , anesthesia , combinatorics , mathematics
Summary This study compared the posterior and popliteal fossa approaches for sciatic nerve block. Patients scheduled to undergo foot surgery were allocated randomly into one of two groups: group A (n = 20) received sciatic nerve block via the posterior approach and group B (n = 20) received a block using the popliteal fossa approach. All blocks were performed with the aid of a peripheral nerve stimulator and alkalinised 0.5% bupivacaine with 1 in 200 000 adrenaline was injected in a dose of 2 mg.kg Nineteen of 20 blocks in group A were successful compared with nine of 20 in group B (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference between the groups in respect of time to onset or duration of block. Patients in group B reported less discomfort during performance of the sciatic nerve block but required supplementary nerve blocks more frequently. We recommend the use of the posterior approach for sciatic nerve block.