• S A Lang, R W Yip, P C Chang, and M A Gerard.
• Department of Anaesthesia, Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
• J Clin Anesth. 1993 Jul 1;5(4):292-6.

Study ObjectiveTo estimate the frequency of successful conduction blockade of the femoral, lateral femoral cutaneous, and obturator nerves following a femoral 3-in-1 block.DesignProspective observational study.SettingOperating room at Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.Patients32 patients having lower extremity surgery.InterventionsFemoral 3-in-1 nerve blocks were performed on all patients.Measurements And Main ResultsSensation and motor power in all 3 nerve distributions (femoral, lateral femoral cutaneous, obturator) were assessed before and after each femoral 3-in-1 nerve block. By our criteria, the femoral nerve block was successful in 26 of 32 patients (81%). The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve was successfully blocked in 25 of 26 patients (96%). Incidentally, the saphenous nerve which is classically described as the terminal branch of the femoral nerve, was successfully blocked in 20 of 26 patients (77%). The obturator nerve block was successful in only 1 of 26 patients (4%).ConclusionsThe femoral 3-in-1 nerve block does not block the parent trunk of the obturator nerve.

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