Ultrasound guided sciatic nerve block (SNB) at the popliteal fossa is performed with the lateral approach in the supine position\r\nor with the lateral or posterior approach in the prone position. When the sciatic nerve (SN) is blocked with the lateral approach\r\nin the supine position, the lower limb must be sufficiently elevated to enable adequate space around the knee joint for transducer\r\napplication.When the SN is blocked in the prone position, the patientsââ?¬â?¢ position needs to be changed.We report a medial approach\r\nto the SNB at the popliteal fossa in the supine position with ultrasound guidance. Ten patients scheduled for elective knee or foot\r\nsurgery participated in this study. Patients were placed in the supine position, with the hip and knee on the operated side flexed\r\nand the thigh externally rotated at approximately 45 degrees. A block needle was inserted in-plane with the transducer toward the\r\nSN bifurcation from the medial side of the thigh. The block performance time for SNB was 1.8Ã?±0.5 min (1.3ââ?¬â??3.1 min). All blocks\r\nwere effective. Our medial approach to the SN in the supine position with ultrasound guidance does not require elevation of the\r\npatientââ?¬â?¢s lower limb or a change in the patientââ?¬â?¢s position.
Loading....