Continuous Tibial Nerve Block Versus Single Shot Tibial Nerve Block

Foot surgery often causes severe and prolonged pain postoperatively. Prior methods of
postoperative pain control included oral narcotics, single injection regional techniques and
more recently continuous nerve catheters. Recent studies have demonstrated a benefit with
continuous popliteal catheters when compared to single injection techniques in regards to
postoperative pain control and patient satisfaction for foot surgeries.

Nerve blocks in the popliteal fossa involve both the common peroneal nerve and the tibial
nerve. The innervation to the plantar surface of the forefoot involves the tibial nerve and
does not involve the peroneal nerve. The purpose of this study is to compare the continuous
posterior tibial nerve catheter with a single injection posterior tibial nerve block when
used as part of a surgical ankle block for forefoot surgery.