Forefoot surgery includes bunion surgery and similar reconstructive bone cutting surgery and is very painful. Local anaesthetic nerve blocks have been used for many years to help alleviate pain following this surgery. The present study aims to compare a new ultrasound guided nerve block to a well established nerve stimulator guided technique. Comparisons will include time taken to carry out the block, speed of onset of numbness and duration and quality of pain relief after surgery.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
60
Under ultrasound guidance, block of the tibial nerve, superficial and deep branches of the common peroneal nerve and saphenous nerves will be carried out using 12 mls 0.5% levobupivacaine and 12 mls 0.75% levobupivacaine.
Using peripheral nerve stimulator guidance, the tibial and common peroneal nerves will be blocked ( plus the saphenous nerve ), using a total of 12 mls 0.75% levobupivacaine and 12 mls 0.5% levobupivacaine.
Castle Hill Hospital, Castle Road, Cottingham
Hull, East Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Time taken to carry out each local anaesthetic block
Time taken between opening sterile packs and completion of local anaesthetic block is measured by a blind observer.
Time frame: Over forty five minutes from the start of the study.
Onset of local anaesthesia
Following administration of the local block, development of anaesthesia will be measured looking at cold and pin-prick sensation by a blind observer.
Time frame: Over thirty minutes from completion of the local anaesthetic block.
Duration of pain relief following local anaesthetic block.
Pain relief will be assessed over 24 hours following surgery, to assess its duration and quality, by a blind observer.
Time frame: Over 24 hours following surgery.
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