title: Ankle tourniquet pain control in forefoot surgery: a randomized study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Forefoot surgery is often performed under regional anesthesia in awake patients, using tourniquet or Esmarch bandage to obtain a bloodless field. The purpose of this study was to examine the value and need for local tourniquet pain control using local subcutaneous analgesic mixture in patients undergoing forefoot surgery under ankle block anesthesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively randomized 56 patients who underwent forefoot surgery under ankle block to receive either subcutaneous local anesthetic mixture under the tourniquet or no additional anesthetic. We checked for local tourniquet pain score (VAS 0 to 100) and skin condition during and after the procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The tourniquet was quite tolerable in both groups, with an average VAS score of 7 to 21. No difference was observed between groups throughout most of the procedure. No correlation between VAS scores and procedure length or patient's age or gender was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An ankle tourniquet was well-tolerated by patients without need for local anesthetic beneath the cuff.
authors: Rabin Medical Center, Petach-Tikva, Israel. dr.alonburg@gmail.com
authors: Alon
authors: A
authors: Burg
authors: Yehezkel
authors: Y
authors: Tytiun
authors: Steven
authors: S
authors: Velkes
authors: Snir
authors: S
authors: Heller
authors: Barak
authors: B
authors: Haviv
authors: Israel
authors: I
authors: Dudkiewicz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000765:Anesthesia, Conduction; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014111:Tourniquets; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine; D002045:Bupivacaine