Foot & ankle
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A simplified, predictable method of peripheral nerve block at the ankle and foot with a long acting anesthetic agent bupivacaine (Marcaine) 0.5% is presented. Combined with the use of a pneumatic tourniquet it allows the performance of mid and forefoot surgery on an inpatient or outpatient basis. It alleviates the risks of general or spinal anesthesia and avoids the use of analgesics for a period of 10 to 25 hours. ⋯ The sural nerve is blocked subcutaneously at one fingerbreadth distal to the tip of the lateral malleolus. The results have been excellent to good. No adverse reactions occurred affecting the central nervous system of the myocardium.