The femoral 3-in-1 block revisited.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the frequency of successful conduction blockade of the femoral, lateral femoral cutaneous, and obturator nerves following a femoral 3-in-1 block.


METHODS
Prospective observational study.


METHODS
Operating room at Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.


METHODS
32 patients having lower extremity surgery.


METHODS
Femoral 3-in-1 nerve blocks were performed on all patients.


RESULTS
Sensation and motor power in all 3 nerve distributions (femoral, lateral femoral cutaneous, obturator) were assessed before and after each femoral 3-in-1 nerve block. By our criteria, the femoral nerve block was successful in 26 of 32 patients (81%). The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve was successfully blocked in 25 of 26 patients (96%). Incidentally, the saphenous nerve which is classically described as the terminal branch of the femoral nerve, was successfully blocked in 20 of 26 patients (77%). The obturator nerve block was successful in only 1 of 26 patients (4%).


CONCLUSIONS
The femoral 3-in-1 nerve block does not block the parent trunk of the obturator nerve.
Department of Anaesthesia, Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
S A
SA
Lang
R W
RW
Yip
P C
PC
Chang
M A
MA
Gerard
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005267:Femoral Nerve; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block; D009776:Obturator Nerve; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D013848:Thigh / Q000294:innervation*