Postoperative Analgesia Using Peripheral Anesthetic Block of the Foot and Ankle.

BACKGROUND: Anesthetic block of the peripheral nerves in the foot and ankle is generally used as anesthesia. The increased use of anesthetic blocks has made this technique an increasingly safe method, and its use has been expanded to postoperative analgesia in foot and ankle surgeries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the analgesia time and pain intensity, using objective scores, after peripheral nerve block in foot and ankle surgeries.

METHODS: Patients who underwent surgery by the foot and ankle group of our institution from March 2016 to January 2017 were invited to participate in this prospective, randomized, and blinded study after signing an informed consent form. The study was approved by the local ethics committee. In total, 57 patients and 59 feet (2 bilateral surgeries) were subjected to spinal anesthesia and were randomized into the group receiving peripheral nerve block in the foot and ankle (7.5 mg/mL ropivacaine) and the control group. The patients answered a questionnaire, administered by phone during the postoperative period, regarding measurement of pain intensity, using the visual analog scale (VAS), and the time of onset of pain.

RESULTS: Improved pain was noted in patients who received a supplemental peripheral nerve block in relation to the duration of postoperative analgesia and the intensity of pain during the immediate postoperative period. No significant difference was found between the 2 groups in terms of pain intensity on the first or second postoperative day.

CONCLUSION: Peripheral nerve block in the foot and ankle region can be used effectively as postoperative analgesia to reduce pain intensity during the immediate postoperative period and prolong analgesia.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I, high-quality prospective randomized clinical trial.