LOWER EXTREMITY BLOCKS

Course overview

THE LUMBOSACRAL PLEXUS (L1 TO S4 NERVE ROOTS) INNERVATES THE LOWER EXTREMITY. UNLIKE THE BRACHIAL PLEXUS IN THE UPPER EXTREMITY, THE LUMBOSACRAL PLEXUS IS NOT EASILY BLOCKED WITH A SINGLE-INJECTION TECHNIQUE. CONSEQUENTLY, NEURAXIAL BLOCKS WERE PREFERRED IN THE PAST WHEN LOWER EXTREMITY ANESTHESIA OR ANALGESIA WAS DESIRED. AS TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS HAVE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF OUTPATIENT PROCEDURES, NEURAXIAL TECHNIQUES HAVE BECOME LESS DESIRABLE. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE ROLE OF LOWER EXTREMITY BLOCKS, THEIR INDICATIONS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS NEEDING LOWER EXTREMITY SURGERY.