SCIATIC-NERVE PALSY FOLLOWING UNEVENTFUL SCIATIC-NERVE BLOCK

We describe the loss of function in the sciatic nerve after an unevent ful sciatic nerve block using 25 mi of lignocaine 1% with adrenaline 1 in 200 000 in a patient receiving beta blocker drugs. Lack of pain on injection and complete regeneration of the nerve after 12 months in a patient with severe peripheral vascular disease led us to postulate i schaemic nerve damage as a mechanism of injury. Adrenaline-induced uno pposed alpha-mediated vasoconstriction in a beta-blocked patient is su ggested as a possible mechanism of peripheral nerve injury worthy of f urther investigation.