Effects of Catheter Location on Postoperative Analgesia for Continuous Adductor Canal and Popliteal-Sciatic Nerve Blocks

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2018-03-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Currently, continuous adductor canal and popliteal-sciatic nerve blocks are used commonly for lower extremity post-operative pain control, specifically for total knee arthroplasty and foot/ankle surgery, respectively. A perineural catheter used to infuse local anesthetic for postoperative analgesia may be placed at various locations along the target nerves. Investigations of single-injection peripheral nerve blocks suggest that the onset of the block might be faster with one location over the other; but, the success rates are equivalent. However, remaining unknown is whether there is an optimal location to place a perineural catheter as part of a continuous peripheral nerve block.

• Phase: Phase 4
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: University of California, San Diego
• Treatments: Ropivacaine

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. undergoing surgery with an adductor canal or popliteal-sciatic perineural catheter for postoperative analgesia following primary tri-compartment knee arthroplasty or foot/ankle surgery;

2. anticipated to have at least moderate pain following surgery [NRS>3]; and,

3. age 18 years or older.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. pregnancy (a urine pregnancy test is standard at UCSD for female patients prior to menopause who are sexually active with the opposite sex within the previous year);

2. inability to communicate with the investigators and hospital staff;

3. clinical neuropathy in the surgical extremity;

4. chronic high-dose opioid use (defined as daily use for more than 4 weeks prior to surgery of at least the equivalent of 20 mg oxycodone);

5. BMI > 40 kg/m2;

6. allergy to study medications (lidocaine, ropivicaine);

7. known renal insufficiency; or,

8. incarceration.