LOCAL-ANESTHESIA FOR POSTOPERATIVE PAIN RELIEF AFTER FOOT SURGERY - APROSPECTIVE CLINICAL-TRIAL

A prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial was set up to tes t whether the addition of ankle block to general anesthesia was useful in providing postoperative pain relief following forefoot surgery. Fo rty feet (20 treatment, 20 control) were entered into the trial and al l underwent bony operations on the first ray. Pain was assessed at fix ed times following the operation using pain analog scales. Analgesic c onsumption and wound healing were also assessed.A significant differen ce was found between the pain scores in the two groups at the 6-hr sta ge, but there was no difference in any of the other assessments. It is concluded that ankle block is a useful addition to general anesthesia for this type of surgery.