Comparison of Analgesic Duration of Popliteal Block Versus Ankle Block in Patients Undergoing Forefoot Surgery

Comparison of Analgesic Duration of Popliteal Block Versus Ankle Block in Patients Undergoing Forefoot Surgery

Pain after forefoot surgery can be important and regional anesthesia plays a crucial role in post-operative pain control. Several techniques can be used to achieve surgical anesthesia as well as postoperative analgesia. Of those techniques the ankle block and sciatic nerve block at the popliteal fossa are the most common. The primary goal of this study is thus to compare the analgesic duration of these two types of blocks for patients undergoing forefoot surgery.

Patients scheduled for unilateral forefoot surgery, aged over 18 years old and ASA status I-III without any contra-indications for regional anesthesia will be enrolled.

After a standard randomisation, patients will be allocated in either of two groups : ankle block or sciatic nerve block at the popliteal fossa. In both groups the patients will have a multimodal analgesic regimen followed by a patient-controlled-analgesia (PCA) of morphine.

The primary endpoint is the analgesic duration, defined by the time between the end of the block procedure and the first IV request of morphine from a PCA.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients who are going to undergo a unilateral forefoot surgery ;
• ASA I-III ;
• Aged 18 years or more;
• Weighing at least 45 kg

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient refusal and/or language/cognitive barrier
• Pregnancy
• Contra-indication for regional anesthesia
• Opiate or alcohol dependency
• Concomitant oncological disease with chemotherapy
• Patients suffering from neuropathic pain