Use of Ultrasound in Lower Extremity Blocks.

Nerve "freezing" injections of the leg are very useful in providing anesthesia and pain relief for knee and ankle surgery. However, current nerve "freezing" techniques are "blind". As a result, they are not always successful and may cause complications, albeit infrequent.

The objective of the current study is to determine any advantage in performing these "freezing" injections under direct ultrasound guidance, to "visualize" the nerves. We feel that by developing this technique, it will allow us to perform these procedures with greater success and fewer complications.

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Key information

Conditions

Regional Anesthesia

Age range

18 year–85 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University Health Network

Toronto, Ontario, M5T2S8, Canada

About this study

This study is a randomised controlled trial. Its objective is to compare results and complications between two techniques of nerve localisation for nerve blocks of the lower limb. We have developed a real-time, image guided approach to nerve blocks of the lower extremities in three locations: the femoral nerve in the groin and the sciatic nerve in the buttock and/or popliteal fossa. We have used ultrasound imaging to locate and asess the nerves of the lower extremities and to use it as a real-time guidance for performance of lower extremity blocks in patients undergoing orthopaedic procedures. The results of our previous study will be presented as a case series reporting anatomical appearance of the nerves studied, time for block performance and success rates. In this study we aim to compare these parambeters between standard and ultrasound techniques of lower extremity block, to show any advantage.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

English-speaking
ASA physical status I-III
18-85 years of age, inclusive
50-110 kg, inclusive
150 cm of height or grater
Scheduled for elective foot or ankle surgery

Exclusion criteria

Contraindications to sciatic nerve block (e.g., allergy to local anesthetics, coagulopathy, malignancy or infection in the popliteal area)
Significant peripheral neuropathy or neurologic disorder affecting the lower extremity
Pregnancy
Contraindications to, allergies to, and/or past adverse reactions to local anesthetics
History of alcohol or drug dependency/abuse

Treatment and study plan

Ultrasound

Procedure

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Health Network, Toronto

Other

Collaborators

University of Toronto

Registry information

Official study title

Does Ultrasound Guidance Improve the Success of Sciatic Nerve Block at the Popliteal Fossa? A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Trial.

Important dates

Study start: 2003
Study completion: 2005
First posted: Sep 22, 2005
Registry last updated: Dec 5, 2008

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed