Two clinical cases of unintentionally prolonged sciatic nerve block

Abstract

This study describes two clinical cases of unexpectedly long duration of motor block after anterior sciatic nerve block. In two patients who underwent total knee replacement, the motor block reversion in the area of sciatic nerve innervation did not occur at the expected time. Ultrasound examination revealed the deposition of a local anesthetic near the sciatic nerve. In these two clinical cases, unintentionally prolonged sciatic nerve blockade was caused by combined age-related factors of reduced tissue perfusion and the vasoconstrictor properties of levobupivacaine. Subsequently, the block was successfully resolved in 3638 h without any neurological consequences.