• Mark J Herr, Ario B Keyarash, Jesse J Muir, Todd A Kile, and Richard J Claridge.
• Luther Midelfort Clinic, Mayo Health Systems, 1400 Bellinger Street, Eau Claire, WI 54702, USA. herr.mark@mayo.edu
• Foot Ankle Int. 2006 Sep 1;27(9):667-71.

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to determine safety and efficacy of lateral transtendinous popliteal blocks performed after induction of general anesthesia for intraoperative and postoperative pain control in elective foot and ankle surgery.MethodsThe charts of 475 consecutive patients were retrospectively reviewed. The technique was a lateral transtendinous popliteal block under nerve stimulator direction (described in the text). Patient records were retrospectively evaluated from the postanesthesia care unit, as well as at followup on postoperative day 1 and weeks 2, 6, and 12.ResultsThe block was complete in 398 patients (83.7%). An incomplete block was found in 77 patients (16.2 %). In the incomplete category, 21 patients (4.4%) had no pain but some motor function, 32 patients (6.5%) reported mild to moderate pain, and 24 patients (5.3%) had severe pain. The average block duration was 16.5 hours. There were no adverse effects documented in any patient at followup.ConclusionsLateral popliteal nerve block after induction of general anesthesia appears to be safe and effective for intraoperative and postoperative pain control in elective foot and ankle surgery.

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