RCT comparison of saphenous nerve blocks in Podiatric Surgery
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A comparison of two different saphenous nerve local anaesthetic nerve blocks for day-case podiatric surgical correction of hallux valgus with regard to duration of anaesthesia and post-operative opioid analgesic total dose: a randomised control trial
IRAS ID
265148
Contact name
Michael Hutchby
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Derby
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
The study will compare two different local anaesthetic block techniques of the saphenous nerve for podiatric day-case bunion surgery, to investigate which block, provides optimal pain relief and minimise the use of opioid painkillers to patients attending day-case podiatric surgical ambulatory surgery.
Local anaesthetic saphenous nerve blocks are utilised at the level of the ankle or just above the knee, for leg and foot surgery
All adult patients referred to the podiatric surgery department within University Hospitals Birmingham for day-case bunion correction under local anaesthesia and who meet the inclusion criteria will be invited to join the study if they decline then their treatment will continue following the department's treatment pathways. If they agree then information leaflets are supplied together with verbal reinforcement, for both the surgical procedure and the research study will be obtained.
Participants are randomised to a control group (saphenous nerve block at the ankle) or the study group with the saphenous nerve block at the knee. Both groups will receive a standard popliteal nerve block behind the knee.
On the day of surgery, a qualified podiatric surgeon will undertake the relevant local anaesthetic blocks and record set data on the technique and if supplementary local anaesthesia was required.
Following the surgery, the participant will be discharged post-operative advice on post-operative care and the use of painkillers. Participants will be recorded on a provided form the time of first pain (duration of local anaesthesia), the site of first pain (the first nerve to have a return of sensation) and to record all painkillers taken over the 5 days following their operation. This data will be collected at the first scheduled post-operative visit, and securely stored within the department prior to data analysis.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/1545
Date of REC Opinion
27 Sep 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion