The Efficacy of Postoperative Ultrasound-Guided Sciatic Nerve Block to Relieve Pain after Hallux Valgus Surgery / 대한족부족관절학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Modified Mau and Akin osteotomy for hallux valgus is followed by moderate to severe postoperative pain. Ultrasound-guided sciatic nerve block can be an effective option for pain control. We attempted to evaluate the efficacy of the ultrasound-guided sciatic nerve block in controlling postoperative pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The charts of 59 consecutive patients were retrospectively reviewed between December 2014 and August 2015. Twenty-eight patients (the patient group) has received the ultrasound-guided sciatic nerve block after surgery, and 31 patients (the control group) has not received such procedure. The primary outcome was the satisfaction scale for postoperative pain control and postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score. RESULTS: The VAS score at postoperative day one was significantly lower in the patient group than in the control group. The satisfaction scale for pain control for postoperative 1 day was significantly different between the two groups. In patient group, most patients have rated positively ('strongly agree' 42.9%, 'agree' 42.9%); however, in the control group, the rating scales were distributed relatively negatively ('strongly agree' 9.7%, 'agree' 22.6%, 'neutral' 29.0%, 'disagree' 25.8%, 'strongly disagree' 12.9%). The number of postoperative rescue analgesics injection was significantly lower in the patient group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: Postoperative ultrasound-guided sciatic nerve block was effective for pain relief after hallux valgus surgery.