• A W Kilpatrick, D M Coventry, and J G Todd.
• Division of Anaesthesia, Western Infirmary, Glasgow.
• Anaesthesia. 1992 Feb 1;47(2):155-7.

AbstractThis study compared the posterior and popliteal fossa approaches for sciatic nerve block. Patients scheduled to undergo foot surgery were allocated randomly into one of two groups: group A (n = 20) received sciatic nerve block via the posterior approach and group B (n = 20) received a block using the popliteal fossa approach. All blocks were performed with the aid of a peripheral nerve stimulator and alkalinised 0.5% bupivacaine with 1 in 200,000 adrenaline was injected in a dose of 2 mg.kg-1. Nineteen of 20 blocks in group A were successful compared with nine of 20 in group B (p less than 0.01). There was no significant difference between the groups in respect of time to onset or duration of block. Patients in group B reported less discomfort during performance of the sciatic nerve block but required supplementary nerve blocks more frequently. We recommend the use of the posterior approach for sciatic nerve block.

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