Neurologic complication after anterior sciatic nerve block.
The lack of reported complications related to lower extremity peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) may be related to the relatively infrequent application of these techniques and to the fact that most such events go unpublished. Our current understanding of the factors that lead to neurologic complications after PNBs is limited. This is partly the result of our inability to conduct meaningful retrospective studies because of a lack of standard and objective monitoring and documentation procedures for PNBs. We report a case of permanent injury to the sciatic nerve after sciatic nerve block through the anterior approach and discuss mechanisms that may have led to the injury. Intraneural injection and nerve injury can occur in the absence of pain on injection and it may be heralded by high injection pressure (resistance).
Shah
Shruti
S
Department of Anesthesiology, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York.
Hadzic
Admir
A
Vloka
Jerry D
JD
Cafferty
Maureen S
MS
Moucha
Calin S
CS
Santos
Alan C
AC
D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries*
D000779:Anesthetics, Local