Postoperative pain following ankle block and unilateral subarachnoid block for foot surgeries: A randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Objectives The aim of this study is to compare the postoperative pain between the ankle block and the unilateral spinal block following foot surgeries. Material and Methods Fifty adult patients who were scheduled to undergo elective foot surgeries and met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. They were randomly assigned into two groups, Group A and Group S, of 25 each using computer-generated random numbers. Group A had surgery under the ankle block using 0.5% plain bupivacaine, while group S had surgery under a unilateral subarachnoid block using 0.5% heavy bupivacaine. The postoperative pain intensity was measured using visual analogue scale (VAS) score. Results The data were analysed using Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS) version 25.0 and were presented using relevant tables and figures. The statistical tests of association were performed with a confidence level of 95%, and a P-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. In the first hour, the VAS score for Group A was 0.96 (± 0.74), while for Group S it was 3.48 (± 0.57), P = 0.000. In the second hour, Group A had a VAS score of 1.40 (± 0.645) while Group S had a score of 4.44 (± 0.65), P = 0.000. At the fourth hour, the VAS score of Group A was 1.52 (± 0.51), while it was 5.64 (± 1.04) for Group S, P = 0.000. At twelfth hour, Group A had a lower VAS score [3.00 (± 0.65)] when compared to Group S [7.52 (± 0.77)], P = 0.000; and at 24th hour, the VAS score was higher for Group S [7.92 (± 0.91)] when compared to that of Group A [3.84 (± 0.63)], P = 0.000. Conclusion Ankle block is associated with minimal postoperative pain with lower pain intensity scores compared to unilateral subarachnoid block following foot surgeries.