title: Surgeon administered regional blocks for day case forefoot surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim was to see if as surgeons we were providing safe, efficient and effective, regional blocks for patients undergoing day case, forefoot surgery. We also assessed the costs of, providing this service.
  
  
  METHODS
  63 consecutive patients were recruited prospectively for local anaesthetic block. Blocks were, performed by the orthopaedic team. Efficacy of block was assessed intra-operatively with a visual, analogue score (VAS) of 0-10. Satisfaction with the anaesthetic procedure was also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Average time to perform the block was 6 min. Mean VAS for knife to skin was 0.44 (95%, confidence 0.07-0.81) and for ankle tourniquet was 1.39 (95% confidence 0.85-1.39). Patients were, highly satisfied with the blocks. No complications were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These blocks are quick and easy to perform by orthopaedic surgeons. They are well, tolerated and effective. They result in considerable cost savings to the Hospital.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Worthing Hospital, Lyndhurst Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 2DH, United Kingdom. julian.foote@btinternet.com
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Foote
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Samer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jarvis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D005545:Forefoot, Human / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult