Anesth Analg 2006;103:1571-1573
© 2006 International Anesthesia Research Society
doi: 10.1213/01.ane.0000242534.84131.c6
ANALGESIA
The Posterior Approach to the Sciatic Nerve in the Popliteal Fossa: A Comparison of Single- Versus Double-Injection Technique
Xavier March, MD*,
Olga Pineda, MD*,
Maria M. Garcia, PhD ,
Dolores Caramés, MD*, and
Antonio Villalonga, PhD*
From the *Servei dAnestèsia, Reanimació i Terapèutica del Dolor and Institut de Investigació Biomédica de Girona, Hospital Universitari de Girona Dr Josep Trueta, Girona, Spain.
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Xavier March, MD, Servei dAnestèsia, Reanimació i Terapèutica del Dolor, Hospital Universitari de Girona Dr Josep Trueta, Carretera de França s/n. Girona. Spain. Address e-mail: h416uxmm{at}htrueta.scs.es.
Abstract
We compared single-injection and double-injection of the sciatic nerve with nerve stimulation in the posterior popliteal approach using mepivacaine 1% in a prospective, randomized and single-blind study to evaluate effectiveness, delay of onset, and complications in patients undergoing foot and ankle surgery. In the single-injection group (Group S, n = 30), 25 mL of mepivacaine 1% was administered after eliciting foot inversion or plantar flexion. In the double-injection group (Group D, n = 30), 12.5 mL of the solution was injected after eversion or dorsiflexion and 12.5 mL after plantar flexion of the foot. Mean differences (sd) between the two groups from onset time to complete sensory block were not significant (21.9 [14.2] min vs 22.1 [13.8] min) except for the superficial peroneal nerve block (18 [13] min vs 11.4 [7.5] min, Group S and D, respectively; P < 0.05) and, in Group D, between the superficial peroneal and tibial nerve blocks (11.4 [7.5] min vs 22.3 [11.3] min, respectively; P < 0.05). Complete analgesia was achieved in 77% of Group S patients and in 87% of Group D (P = 0.22). Complete analgesia of the deep peroneal nerve was achieved in 80% and 97% in Group S and D, respectively; P < 0.05. There were more paresthesias during block procedure in Group D (17% vs 40%) (P < 0.05). We conclude that double-nerve stimulation of the sciatic nerve gives similar complete onset times and overall success rate to single-nerve stimulation and more paresthesias during block performance.
This article has been cited by other articles:

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. T. Muniz, J. Rodriguez, M. Bermudez, C. Valino, N. Blanco, M. Amor, P. Aguirre, A. Masid, J. Cortes, J. Alvarez, et al.
Low Volume and High Concentration of Local Anesthetic Is More Efficacious than High Volume and Low Concentration in Labat's Sciatic Nerve Block: A Prospective, Randomized Comparison
Anesth. Analg.,
December 1, 2008;
107(6):
2085 - 2088.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
E. Dufour, P. Quennesson, A. L. Van Robais, F. Ledon, P.-A. Laloe, N. Liu, and M. Fischler
Combined Ultrasound and Neurostimulation Guidance for Popliteal Sciatic Nerve Block: A Prospective, Randomized Comparison with Neurostimulation Alone
Anesth. Analg.,
May 1, 2008;
106(5):
1553 - 1558.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. Palmisani, P. Ronconi, R. A. De Blasi, and R. Arcioni
Lateral or Posterior Popliteal Approach for Sciatic Nerve Block: Difference is Related to the Anatomy
Anesth. Analg.,
July 1, 2007;
105(1):
286 - 286.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Risch, S. Blumenthal, and A. Borgeat
Is the Double-Injection Technique Really Needed?
Anesth. Analg.,
July 1, 2007;
105(1):
285 - 286.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
X. March, O. Pineda, D. Carames, A. Villalonga, and J. Trueta
Lateral or Posterior Popliteal Approach for Sciatic Nerve Block: Difference is Related to the Anatomy
Anesth. Analg.,
July 1, 2007;
105(1):
286 - 287.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|
|