Lower limb nerve blocks

Peripheral nerve blocks are increasingly used for a wide range of surgical procedures involving the lower limb. A number of techniques can be used to provide anaesthesia and highly effective postoperative analgesia, offering an alternative to general anaesthesia in some cases, minimizing the requirement for strong opiates and improving the quality of recovery following surgery. Ultrasound-guided nerve localization offers several potential advantages when performing femoral, sciatic and ankle blocks; however, neurostimulation remains a useful and widely used aid to lower limb regional anaesthesia practice.