Complications profile following regional anesthesia: Comparative analysis between ankle and unilateral spinal blocks for foot surgery

Abstract

Objectives This study aims to compare the complications profile between ankle block and unilateral spinal block for foot Surgeries. Ankle block is expected to provide minimal intraoperative and postoperative complications compared to unilateral spinal block following foot surgeries. Material and Methods Fifty adult patients scheduled for elective foot surgeries that met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. They were assigned into two groups of 25 each as they came, group A (ankle block) and group S (unilateral spinal block). Group A had surgery under the ankle block using 4 ml of 0.5% plain bupivacaine to block each nerve. In contrast, group S had surgery under a unilateral spinal block using 3 ml of 0.5% heavy bupivacaine. The complications were observed and recorded. The data obtained were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25.0 and were presented using relevant proportions, tables, and figures. Statistical association tests were performed with a confidence level of 95%, and a p-value of less than 0.05 was taken as significant. Results The intraoperative complications observed between the two groups; three patients (12%) had nausea for group S while two patients (8.7%) had nausea from group A, two patients (8%) had vomiting from group S while one patient (4%) from group A had vomiting, three patients (12%) had bradycardia from group S and one patient (4%) had bradycardia from group A, three patients (12%) from group S had hypotension while no patient had hypotension from group A. The postoperative complications between the two groups; 2 (8%) patients had nausea from group S while only one patient (4%) had nausea from group A, Only 1 (4%) patient had vomiting from group S and one patient (4%) had vomiting from group A. Only two patients (8%) had urinary retention from group S, while no patients from group A had urinary retention. No patient had a postural puncture headache or shivering from group S. Conclusion Ankle block is associated with minimal complications compared to unilateral spinal block.