Protracted Mixture of Local Anesthetics for Major Foot and Ankle Surgery

Protracted Mixture of Local Anesthetics for Major Foot and Ankle Surgery. A Randomized Double-blind, Controlled Study Comparing Bupivacaine-Epinephrine 0.5% Versus Bupivacaine-Epinephrine 0.5% With Dexamethasone

To extend the duration of peripheral nerve blockade after major foot and ankle surgery the investigators randomize the postoperative treatment with either perineurial sciatic nerve blocks with 0.5% Bupivacaine-Epinephrine with or without Dexamethasone.

Inclusion Criteria:

• age > 17
• scheduled major foot and ankle surgery
• written informed consent
• fertile women in anti conceptive treatment
• fertile women not in anti conceptive treatment, but with negative urin-HCG on day of surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients not able to understand or cooperate
• allergies to medicines involved
• daily buse of steroids
• daily use of opioids