title: Case report: unusual complication during outpatient continuous regional popliteal analgesia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Continuous regional anesthesia applied as pain therapy at home is clinically established standard practice after upper and lower limb surgery. Persistent motor block at discharge or after continuous infusion of local anesthetics, however, might lead to complications related to the insensate extremity. We report a rare case of a foot fracture due to stumbling after continuous sciatic nerve block at home and discuss the related clinical implications.
  
  
  METHODS
  After uncomplicated ambulatory foot surgery under regional anesthesia, a patient was discharged with a continuous sciatic popliteal nerve block for pain therapy at home. After stumbling, the patient remained symptom-free even until catheter removal three days after surgery. Radiography done one week after surgery revealed a styloid fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone. Her subsequent recovery was uneventful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The true incidence of complications related to falls at home associated with lower extremity blockade remains unknown, as symptoms of possible complications may be masked by the effects of the local anesthetic. However, with increasing use of postoperative regional anesthesia, it is mandatory to develop and adhere to clinical care maps, and to elaborate and teach strategies to further enhance patient safety.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Regional and Ambulatory Anesthesia Unit, Bellinzona Regional Hospital, Bellinzona, Switzerland.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Saporito
authors: Evelina
authors: E
authors: Sturini
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Petri
authors: Alain
authors: A
authors: Borgeat
authors: José A
authors: JA
authors: Aguirre
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D000765:Anesthesia, Conduction / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D011859:Radiography; D012584:Sciatic Nerve
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local