Sciatic Nerve Block Group Research Articles

Comparative Effects of Spinal Anesthesia and Combined Spinal with Peripheral Nerve Blocks on Postoperative Outcomes in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of spinal anesthesia (SA) alone versus combined spinal anesthesia with adductor canal block (ACB) and sciatic nerve block (SNB) (SA + ACB + SNB) in patients undergoing arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. We hypothesized that SA + ACB + SNB would provide better analgesia, greater patient satisfaction, and shorter postanesthesia recovery times than SA alone. Methods: A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted with 60 patients aged 15-49 years scheduled for elective arthroscopic ACL reconstruction. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either SA or SA + ACB + SNB. Postoperative pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 4, 12, and 24 h post-operation. General health was evaluated using the 12-item Short Form Survey (SF-12) at 1 month postoperatively. Range of motion and analgesic consumption were also recorded. Results: The median VAS score at 4 h post-operation was significantly lower in the SA + ACB + SNB group compared to the SA group (0 [IQR: 0-1] vs. 2 [IQR: 1-3], p = 0.0137). No significant differences in VAS scores were found at 12 h (p = 0.9282) and 24 h (p = 0.5809). PCS-12 and MCS-12 scores did not differ significantly between groups. The SA group had a lower postoperative range of motion (ROM) compared to the SA + ACB + SNB group, with a mean active ROM of 40.67 degrees (±23.52) versus 72.17 degrees (±24.69), respectively (p < 0.0001). Analgesic consumption was similar, with 53.33% of participants in each group using postoperative analgesics (p = 1.0). The mean surgery duration was 74.6 min. The gender distribution was 83% male and 17% female, with an average age of 27.7 years. Conclusions: Adding ACB and SNB to spinal anesthesia improved immediate postoperative pain relief and preserved range of motion in patients undergoing ACL reconstruction, suggesting potential clinical benefits in pain management and functional recovery.

Unilateral spinal anesthesia and the sciatic nerve block in foot surgery

Purpose of the study. To evaluate the effectiveness of unilateral spinal anesthesia as a method of pain relief during foot surgery. Analyze the effectiveness of unilateral spinal anesthesia versus sciatic nerve block. To develop an algorithm for performing unilateral spinal anesthesia during foot surgery.&#x0D; Materials and methods. We examined 64 patients who were treated in the department of purulent surgery of the 3rd city hospital in Zaporozhye with a diagnosis of diabetic foot syndrome in the period from 2017 to 2019.&#x0D; Research methods. Assessment of the level of pain intensity using the standard visual analogue scale and the concentration of glucose in the blood serum. Monitoring of the parameters of the cardiovascular system, the temperature of the skin of the lower leg during anesthesia, Doppler scanning of the peripheral circulation in the foot.&#x0D; Results. 4 hours after performing anesthesia, the intensity of pain during movement of the lower limb, according to the visual analogue scale in the group with unilateral spinal anesthesia was 2,3 times less than in the group with sciatic nerve block (p &lt; 0,05). After 10 hours – in the sciatic nerve block group there was a 9,4% increase in comparison with the unilateral spinal anesthesia group (p &lt; 0,05). Compared with the unilateral spinal anesthesia group, in the sciatic nerve block group 20 minutes after anesthesia, the heart rate decreased by 7,2% (p &lt; 0,05). After unilateral spinal anesthesia, the level of systolic blood pressure on 1 toe of the foot increased by 18,3% 20 minutes after anesthesia, and 20 minutes after sciatic nerve block – by 13,7% (p &lt; 0,05). In patients with the unilateral spinal anesthesia group, the temperature on the operated lower limb after anesthesia increased by 3,8%, in the sciatic nerve block group – by 2,8% (p &lt; 0,05).&#x0D; Conclusions. Regional anesthesia is the main method of choice for foot surgery compared to general anesthesia. sciatic nerve block does not in all cases lead to 100% surgical anesthesia and requires additional medical analgosedation. For foot surgery, unilateral spinal anesthesia is preferred.

The efficacy and safety of continuous versus single-injection popliteal sciatic nerve block in outpatient foot and ankle surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundContinuous popliteal sciatic nerve block (CPSNB) has been performed in outpatient foot and ankle surgery as a regional anesthesia method to relieve postoperative pain. Its efficacy as well as safety is yet to be established. There are two purposes of this study: (1) to validate the efficacy of CPSNB with regards to better pain relief and reduced analgesics consumption; (2) to assess the safety of CPSNB.MethodsWe performed a comprehensive literature review on Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, PubMed and Embase and only included randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Five RCTs that compared the efficacy and safety of CPSNB with the single-injection popliteal sciatic nerve block group were included. The primary outcome parameters were visual analog scale (VAS) scores at postoperative 24, 48 and 72 h. The secondary outcome parameters were amount of oral analgesics consumed, overall patient satisfaction and need of admission after surgery. A sensitivity analysis was performed to explore the consistency of the results.ResultsIn comparison with the single-injection group, CPSNB was associated with a lower VAS score at postoperative 24 and 48 h (p < 0.05). There were no neuropathic symptoms or infection events after the nerve block. However, there were several minor complications associated with the pump and catheter system, with drug leakage being the most common complication (N = 26 of 187, 13.9%).ConclusionCPSNB is an effective method in pain management for outpatient foot and ankle surgery. Both methods appear to be safe as none of the patients experienced neuropathic symptoms or infection. Further studies with larger sample size are needed to compare the risk of major complications between the two methods.Level of evidenceI; meta-analysis.

Comparison of Pain Scores and Medication Usage Between Three Pain Control Strategies for Pediatric Anterior Cruciate Ligament Surgery.

IntroductionAssessment and management of postoperative pain in the pediatric population after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery can be challenging; the optimal approach to pain control remains controversial. Recent studies show that use of intraoperative nerve blocks may reduce the need for opioids to control pain in the postoperative period. However, it is unclear which block type is most beneficial in the pediatric outpatient setting. This study compared effectiveness of pain control among three different pain management strategies.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed charts of patients aged 12-17 years who received an elective ACL reconstruction between 2013 and 2017. The three groups were femoral nerve block, combined femoral and sciatic block, and intraarticular injection of bupivacaine (n = 50 per group). The primary variable was postoperative pain scores (visual analog scale 1-10) in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU).ResultsLess than 50% of patients in the combined nerve block group had opioids intraoperatively or in the PACU compared with nearly 100% of patients in the other two groups (p < 0.0001). Also, for patients receiving opioids, the total intraoperative morphine equivalents and PACU pain scores (all patients) were significantly less in the combined block group (p < 0.001). For patients receiving opioids in the PACU, the total morphine equivalents were significantly higher in the intraarticular injection group compared with the nerve block groups (p < 0.0001).ConclusionPatients in the combined femoral and sciatic nerve block group had significantly better pain scores in the PACU with less cumulative morphine equivalent consumption compared with the femoral nerve block group and the intraarticular injection group.

COMPARISON OF POSTOPERATIVE PAIN SCORES AND MEDICATION USAGE BETWEEN THREE PAIN CONTROL STRATEGIES FOR PEDIATRIC ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT (ACL) SURGERY

Background: Assessment and management of postoperative pain in the pediatric population after ACL surgery can be challenging, and the optimal approach to pain control remains controversial. Recent studies have shown that the use of intraoperative nerve blocks may reduce the need for opioids to control pain in the immediate postoperative period. However, it is not clear which block type is the most beneficial for the pediatric outpatient setting. The objective of our study was to compare effectiveness of pain control between three different pain management strategies in the pediatric ACL population. Methods: A retrospective chart review from 2013-2017 of patients ages 12-17 receiving an elective ACL reconstruction. Three types of analgesia were included: femoral nerve block, combined femoral + sciatic block, and intraarticular injection of bupivacaine with cold therapy in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) (each used by three different surgeons as their standard preference in three different hospitals), n = 50 per group. The primary variable was postoperative pain scores (visual analog scale 1-10) in the PACU. Secondary variables collected were demographic data, graft type, time in PACU and intraoperative/postoperative opioid use. Results: The mean (+ SD) age of the cohort was 15.3 + 1.4 years; there were no differences in age, BMI or ratio of boys and girls between the 3 groups (n=50 per group). However, the femoral nerve block group had a significantly lower percentage of Caucasians (28%, P = 0.002) compared to the group with combined blocks (58%) and intraarticular injection (56%). Less than 50% of patients in the combined nerve block group had opioids intraoperatively or in the PACU compared to nearly 100% of patients in the other two groups (P &lt; 0.0001). Also, for patients receiving opioids, the total intraoperative morphine equivalents and PACU pain scores (all patients) were significantly less in the combined block group (P &lt; 0.001). For patients receiving opioids in the PACU, the total morphine equivalents was significantly higher in the intraarticular injection group compared to the nerve block groups (P &lt; 0.0001). Total time in the PACU was 25% longer for patients in the combined block group (P &lt; 0.0001). Conclusion: Patients in the combined femoral and sciatic nerve block group had significantly better pain scores in the PACU with less cumulative morphine equivalent consumption compared to the femoral nerve block group and the intraarticular injection group.

Does Combination Therapy of Popliteal Sciatic Nerve Block and Adductor Canal Block Effectively Control Early Postoperative Pain after Total Knee Arthroplasty?

PurposeWe compared adductor canal block (ACB) alone and a combination of ACB and sciatic nerve block (SNB) to control early postoperative pain after total knee arthroplasty.Materials and MethodsOne hundred patients received continuous ACB alone (group A), and another 100 patients received continuous ACB and single popliteal SNB (group B). Pain was evaluated at rest and 45° knee flexion using the numeric rating scale (NRS). The number of times the patient pressed the intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) button, total PCA volume infused, and the total dosage of additional analgesics were evaluated. We also investigated complications associated with each pain control technique.ResultsThe NRS score on postoperative day 1 was significantly lower in group B than in group A. The number of times patients pressed the PCA button on postoperative day 1 and the total infused volume were significantly lower in group B than in group A. Thirty-five (35%) patients in group B developed foot drop immediately after surgery; but they all fully recovered on postoperative day 1.ConclusionsSNB can be effective for management of early postoperative pain that persists even after ACB. Further research is needed to determine the proper dosage and technique for reducing the incidence of foot drop.

Combined femoral and sciatic nerve block versus femoral and local infiltration anesthesia for pain control after total knee arthroplasty: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BackgroundThe purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was to evaluate the effect of combined femoral and sciatic nerve block (SNB) versus femoral and local infiltration anesthesia (LIA) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).MethodsThe electronic databases PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched from their inception to 15 June 2016. Articles comparing combined femoral and SNB versus femoral and LIA for pain control were eligible for this meta-analysis. This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed according to the PRISMA statement criteria. The primary endpoint was the visual analogue scale (VAS) score with rest at 12, 24, and 48 h, which represents the pain control after TKA. Data regarding active knee flexion, length of hospital stay, anesthesia time, and morphine use at 24 and 48 h were also compiled. The complications of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and fall were also noted to assess the safety of morphine-sparing effects. After testing for publication bias and heterogeneity across studies, the data were aggregated for random-effects modeling when necessary.ResultsSeven clinical trials with 615 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled results indicated that SNB was associated with a lower VAS score at 12 h (MD = −6.96; 95% CI −8.36 to −5.56; P < 0.001) and 48 h (MD = −2.41; 95% CI −3.90 to −0.91; P < 0.001) after TKA. There was no significant difference between the SNB group and the LIA group in terms of the VAS score at 24 h (MD = 0.67; 95% CI −0.31 to 1.66; P = 0.182). The anesthesia time in the LIA group was shorter than in the SNB group, and the difference was statistically significant (MD = 4.31, 95% CI 1.34 to 7.28, P = 0.004). There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of active knee flexion, length of hospital stay, morphine use, PONV, and the occurrence of falls.ConclusionsSNB may provide earlier anesthesia effects than LIA when combined femoral nerve block (FNB); however, there were no differences in morphine use, active knee flexion, and PONV between the groups. The LIA group spent less time under anesthesia, suggesting that LIA may offer a practical and potentially safer alternative to SNB.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13018-016-0495-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Effects of continuous femoral nerve block combined with infiltration anesthesia on postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty

Objective To evaluate the effects of continuous femoral nerve block combined with infiltration anesthesia on postoperative analgesia in the patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. Methods Ninety patients, aged 50-80 yr, weighing 45-90 kg, of ASA physical status Ⅰ-Ⅲ, scheduled for elective unilateral total knee arthroplasty, were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=30 each) using a random number table: continuous femoral nerve block + infiltration anesthesia group (group A) ; continuous femoral nerve block group (group B) ; continuous femoral nerve block + single sciatic nerve block group (group C) . The femoral nerve was catheterized for block before induction of general anesthesia in the three groups, and then a single sciatic nerve block was performed in group C. In group A, 20 ml mixture was injected into the posterior part of the joint capsule before prosthesis implantation, and 20 ml mixture was injected around the collateral ligaments and incision sites after prosthesis implantation and before closing.The mixture included ropivacaine 2.5 mg/ml, fentanyl 2.5 μg/ml, and methylprednisolone 1 mg/ml.In group B, 40 ml of normal saline was given as the method previously described in group A. Patient-controlled analgesia with 0.2% ropivacaine 250 ml was used for postoperative analgesia, lasting for 48 h. The patient-controlled analgesia pump was set up with a 5 ml bolus dose, a 30 min lockout interval and background infusion at a rate of 5 ml/h.Tramadol was used as rescue analgesic and was given orally to maintain the VAS score ≤ 5.VAS scores at rest were recorded at 4, 8, 12, 24 and 48 h after surgery, and VAS scores during activity were recorded at 8, 12, 24 and 48 h after surgery.The total consumption of tramadol within 48 h after surgery was recorded.The motor function of the affected extremity was assessed and scored at 12, 24 and 48 h after surgery, and the sensory and motor function was evaluated at 72 h after removal of the catheter.The occurrence of bleeding or exudates from the site of catheterization and adverse effects were recorded. Results Compared with group B or C, VAS scores at rest at 4-24 h after operation, VAS scores during activity at 8-24 h after operation, and the total consumption of tramadol were significantly decreased in group A. Compared with group B, no significant changes were found in motor block score of the affected extremity in group A. Compared with group C, the motor block score of the affected extremity was significantly decreased in A and B groups.There were no significant differences in the incidence of bleeding or exudates from the site of catheterization and nausea and vomiting between the three groups. Conclusion Continuous femoral nerve block combined with infiltration anesthesia can provide sufficient analgesia without influencing the recovery of sensory and motor function, and the safety is good for the patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. Key words: Femoral nerve; Nerve block; Anesthesia, local; Pain, postoperative; Analgesia; Arthroplasty, replacement, knee

Effects of sciatic nerve block on emergence agitation following sevoflurane-based anesthesia in pediatric patients undergoing foot orthomorphia

Objective To evaluate the effects of the sciatic nerve block on emergence agitation following sevoflurane-based anesthesia in pediatric patients undergoing foot orthomorphia.Methods Sixty pediatric patients,aged 3-7 yr,weighing 12-20 kg,of ASA physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ,scheduled for elective foot orthomorphia,were randomly assigned to one of two groups (n =30 each):control group (group Ⅰ) and sciatic nerve block group (group Ⅱ).After induction of anesthesia,laryngeal mask airway was inserted,and artificial or mechanical ventilation was performed.Anesthesia was maintained with inhalation of sevoflurane (end-tidal concentration 0.5％-2.0％) and iv fentanyl 0.5-2.0 μg/kg.The sciatic nerve block on the affected side was performed under the guidance of a nerve stimulator,and 0.25％ bupivacaine 0.5 ml/kg was injected.Laryngeal mask airway removal time and emergence time were recorded.At 30 min of recovery from anesthesia,agitation was scored and the development of emergence agitation was recorded.Pain was evaluated with Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R) at 10 and 30 min of recovery from anesthesia.Adverse reactions including hypoxemia and nausea and vomiting were also recorded during recovery from anesthesia.Results Compared with group Ⅰ,the intraoperative consumption of fen tanyl and mean end-tidal concentration of sevoflurane were significantly decreased,laryngeal mask airway removal time and emergence time were shortened,and the incidence of emergence agitation,PPS-P scores and incidence of hypoxemia were decreased in group Ⅱ.Conclusion The sciatic nerve block is helpful in decreasing the development of emergence agitation following sevoflurane-based anesthesia in pediatric patients undergoing foot orthomorphia. Key words: Nerve block ; Sciatic nerve ; Anesthetics, inhalation ; Anesthesia recovery period; Children; Agitation

Effects of local infiltration analgesia for posterior knee pain after total knee arthroplasty: comparison with sciatic nerve block

Although femoral nerve block provides good analgesia after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), residual posterior knee pain may decrease patient satisfaction. We compared the efficacy of periarticular infiltration analgesia (PIA) and sciatic nerve block (SNB) for posterior knee pain. Forty-nine patients scheduled for TKA were prospectively randomized into the PIA group (n = 25) or SNB group (n = 24) and received general anesthesia with ultrasound-guided femoral nerve block (FNB). In the PIA group, 60 ml 0.5% ropivacaine and 0.3 mg epinephrine were injected intraoperatively into the periarticular soft tissue before inserting the components. In the SNB group, patients received ultrasound-guided SNB with 20 ml 0.375% ropivacaine and periarticular infiltration with 20 ml normal saline and 0.3 mg epinephrine. We evaluated postoperative pain scores, posterior knee pain, frequency of rescue analgesics for 36 h, and performance time of PIA and SNB. Visual analogue pain scores at 12-24 h were significantly lower in the PIA group than in the SNB group (p < 0.05). The majority of patients had no posterior knee pain. There were no significant differences between the groups in frequency and time of first administration of rescue analgesics and in side effects. Time for performance of periarticular infiltration was significantly shorter than that for SNB (p < 0.05). The dose of intraoperative remifentanil was significantly lower in the SNB group than in the PIA group (p < 0.001). The combination of FNB and PIA provides sufficient analgesia after TKA. The rapid and convenient periarticular infiltration technique could be a good alternative to SNB.

Continuous Versus Single-Injection Sciatic Nerve Block Added to Continuous Femoral Nerve Block for Analgesia After Total Knee Arthroplasty

The benefit of adding sciatic nerve block (SNB) to femoral nerve block to improve analgesia after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is uncertain. We hypothesized that the effective duration of single-injection SNB is too short to improve postoperative analgesia and that this contributes to conflicting results on the efficacy of SNB after TKA. We evaluated this hypothesis in a prospective double-blind randomized controlled trial. Sixty patients undergoing TKA were randomly allocated to a continuous SNB group or a single-injection SNB group. All patients received femoral nerve block (0.5% ropivacaine 20 mL) and SNB (0.2% ropivacaine 20 mL) and catheters were inserted into both peripheral nerve block sites before surgery. Both groups received continuous femoral nerve block and patient-controlled intravenous analgesia with morphine. Continuous SNB (0.2% ropivacaine 5 mL/h; continuous SNB group) or sham continuous SNB (0.9% normal saline 5 mL/h; single-injection SNB group) was provided after surgery. The primary outcome was total morphine consumption for 48 hours after surgery. Total morphine consumption in the 48-hour period after surgery was significantly lower in the continuous SNB group compared with the single-injection SNB group [4.9 (5.9) vs 9.7 (9.5) mg, P = 0.002]. Visual analog scale pain scores at rest were also significantly lower in the continuous SNB group (P = 0.035). The combination of continuous femoral and SNB provides a superior opioid sparing effect and improves analgesia after TKA.

Ultrasound Guided Obturator versus Sciatic Nerve Block in Addition to Continuous Femoral Nerve Block for Analgesia after Total Knee Arthroplasty

Both obturator and sciatic nerve block in combination with femoral nerve block (FNB) have been suggested to be useful in relieving pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), compared with FNB alone. We compared their efficacy in this retrospective study. For six consecutive months, patients undergoing unilateral TKA under general anesthesia with continuous FNB plus obturator nerve block (n = 8) or continuous FNB plus sciatic nerve block (n = 8) were investigated. Knee pain was assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS) on the day of surgery and on postoperative days one to three. In addition, we also investigated intraoperative and postoperative morphine consumption. VAS scores and total morphine consumption were not different between the two groups, although patients in the FNB plus sciatic nerve block group were administered less morphine during surgery. Sciatic nerve block with continuous FNB may be superior to obturator nerve block with continuous FNB for analgesia during surgery for TKA.

Preoperative sciatic nerve block decreases mechanical allodynia more in young rats: is preemptive analgesia developmentally modulated?

Postoperative sensitivity to tactile stimuli differs as a function of age. In this study, we hypothesized that preoperative sciatic nerve block (SNB), by providing preemptive analgesia, would result in better analgesia than postoperative SNB in the young rat. With the paw incision model of postoperative pain, male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 2 or 4 wk, underwent general anesthesia and then received a left SNB with 5 microL/g of 0.5% bupivacaine or normal saline. SNB was performed either before or after surgery. Mechanical allodynia was assessed by using von Frey filaments before and at various times after SNB and surgery. In the 2-wk-old rats, preoperative SNB produced a significant reduction in mechanical allodynia, as reflected by a higher threshold at 2, 5, and 24 h when compared with saline control (P < 0.03). At 24 h, the threshold was 4.0 +/- 0.7 g in the preoperative SNB group compared with 1.6 +/- 0.3 g in the postoperative SNB group (P = 0.004). There was no difference at any time point between the preoperative and the postoperative SNB in the 4-wk-old animals. These results suggest that preoperative SNB in young animals provides a preemptive analgesic effect on mechanical allodynia that is age or developmentally dependent.