Continuous Popliteal Nerve Blocks: Effect of Perineural Catheter Tip Location Relative to the Sciatic Nerve Bifurcation on Postoperative Analgesia

Continuous Popliteal Nerve Blocks: Effect of Perineural Catheter Tip Location Relative to the Sciatic Nerve Bifurcation on Postoperative Analgesia

Research study to determine the relationship between perineural catheter tip location relative to the sciatic nerve bifurcation and postoperative analgesia for continuous popliteal nerve blocks.

Hypothesis: During a continuous popliteal nerve block, postoperative analgesia will be improved with the perineural catheter tip at the level of the sciatic nerve bifurcation compared to when the catheter tip is 5 cm cephalad/proximal to the bifurcation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• undergoing surgery with a popliteal perineural catheter for postoperative analgesia
• age 18 years or older

Exclusion Criteria:

• pregnancy
• inability to communicate with the investigators and hospital staff
• incarceration
• clinical neuropathy in the surgical extremity
• chronic high-dose opioid use
• a history of opioid abuse
• surgery outside of ipsilateral sciatic and saphenous nerve distributions