Comparable Postoperative Pain Levels Using 2 Different Nerve Blocks in the Operative Treatment of Displaced Intra-articular Calcaneal Fractures.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to compare the postoperative pain levels in patients undergoing osteosynthesis of the calcaneus with either a popliteal nerve block or an ankle block.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients undergoing operative fixation of a calcaneal fracture via a sinus tarsi approach between August 2012 and April 2017 in a single foot/ankle specialized center was performed. Single-shot popliteal blocks were placed using ultrasound guidance by an anesthesiologist while ankle blocks were placed by a foot/ankle specialized surgeon. Pain levels were measured through the numerical rating scale (NRS). In total, 83 patients were included in this study; 33 received a popliteal block, and 50 received an ankle block. No statistically significant differences were present in baseline characteristics between the 2 groups.


RESULTS
Comparable postoperative pain levels were observed in both groups. There was no statistically significant difference in amount of morphine used between the 2 groups.


CONCLUSION
No differences were found in postoperative pain levels between patients receiving a single-shot popliteal block and patients who received a single-shot ankle block following calcaneal fracture surgery.


LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
III, comparative series.
['Dingemans|Siem A|SA|', 'de Ruiter|Kristian J|KJ|', 'Birnie|Merel F N|MFN|', 'Goslings|J Carel|JC|', 'van Samkar|Gan|G|', 'Schepers|Tim|T|']
D000328:Adult D000842:Ankle D002111:Calcaneus D005260:Female D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal D050723:Fractures, Bone D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009407:Nerve Block D010147:Pain Measurement D010149:Pain, Postoperative D010543:Peroneal Nerve D012189:Retrospective Studies
pain calcaneal fracture ankle block popliteal block analgesia