• David A Provenzano, Eugene R Viscusi, Samuel B Adams, Michael B Kerner, Marc C Torjman, and Nicholas A Abidi.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
• Foot Ankle Int. 2002 May 1;23(5):394-9.

AbstractThe popliteal fossa nerve block (PFNB) offers numerous advantages that make it a suitable anesthetic technique for foot and ankle surgery. In this retrospective study, we investigated the acute and long-term safety and efficacy of this relatively underutilized anesthetic technique for foot and ankle surgery. A review of 834 patients who underwent foot and/or ankle surgery by the coauthor (NAA) was conducted. Four hundred sixty-seven patients received a PFNB with the aid of a peripheral nerve stimulator. Variables assessed included the quality of surgical anesthesia, postoperative analgesia and the acute and long-term incidence of postoperative neuralgia and neuropraxia. The PFNBs were performed by anesthesiologists with various levels of training at a tertiary care hospital and all were supplemented with a saphenous nerve block. The PFNB was successful as the sole anesthetic technique in 79% of the cases; 18% were converted to general anesthesia and 3% required augmentation with local anesthetic. There were no complications associated with the PFNB. There were no incidents of postoperative neuralgia or neuropraxia. Only 12% of patients with a successful block required analgesics in the PACU, while 60% of patients with a failed block required systemic analgesics for surgical site pain (p<0.01). These results suggest that the performance of the PFNB with the guidance of a peripheral nerve stimulator is a safe and effective anesthetic technique for foot and ankle surgery.

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