Research study to determine the relationship between perineural catheter tip location relative to the sciatic nerve bifurcation and postoperative analgesia for continuous popliteal nerve blocks.
Hypothesis: During a continuous popliteal nerve block, postoperative analgesia will be improved with the perineural catheter tip at the level of the sciatic nerve bifurcation compared to when the catheter tip is 5 cm cephalad/proximal to the bifurcation.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
150
Patients randomized to this group will receive a sciatic nerve block placed at the bifurcaton of the sciatic nerve and outcome measures will be tested.
Patients randomized to this group will receive a sciatic nerve block placed 5cm above the bifurcaton of the sciatic nerve and outcome measures will be tested.
UCSD Medical Centers (Hillcrest and Thornton)
San Diego, California, United States
Average Pain
The average pain in the three hours previous to a phone call the day following surgery as measured on a numeric rating scale (0-10, 0=no pain, 10=worst imaginable pain).
Time frame: 1 Day following surgery
Analgesic Use
Total oral opioid use since surgery and total IV analgesics if any.
Time frame: 1 day following surgery
Sleep Disturbances
Total number of times patient woke due to pain the night following surgery.
Time frame: 1 day following surgery
Infusion Side Effects
Numbness of foot and toes on a 0-10 scale where 0=no numbness and 10=complete numbness.
Time frame: 1 day following surgery
Satisfaction of pain control
Patients will give an answer on a 0-10 scale where 0=completely unsatisfied wiht pain control and 10=completely satisfied with pain control.
Time frame: 1 day following surgery
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