BLOCKADE OF THE SCIATIC-NERVE IN THE POPLITEAL FOSSA - A SYSTEM FOR STANDARDIZATION IN CHILDREN

The sciatic nerve can be blocked at different levels, providing excell ent surgical and postoperative anesthesia and analgesia. We report a s eries of 50 blocks performed via the popliteal fossa in children. Loca lization of either the tibial or peroneal nerve was facilitated by a n erve stimulator. The local anesthetic solution was injected at the poi nt where nerve stimulation was achieved with 0.4 mA at an impulse widt h of 1.0 ms. The depth of insertion of the stimulation cannula correla ted with the age, weight, and height of the patients. The best predict or for depth of insertion was the patient's weight. The minimal depth of insertion was 13 mm. No failure of blockade was seen in this case s eries. Blockade of the sciatic nerve can easily be performed in the po pliteal fossa even in small children. Implications: Blockade of the sc iatic nerve can easily be performed in the popliteal fossa even in sma ll children. The depth of insertion of the stimulation cannula can bes t be estimated according to the weight of the patient. The minimal dep th required was 13 mm.