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Ultrasound Imaging Of The Sciatic Nerve Division In The Popliteal Fossa: A Volunteer Study, Eric P. Chiang, Paul Dangerfield, Daniel Asay, Anita Cucchiaro, Jeffrey S. Berger

Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine Faculty Publications

Background and Objectives: A sciatic nerve block at the level of the popliteal fossa is frequently administered for post-operative analgesia for surgery below the knee. While ultrasound continues to gain popularity as the technique of choice for guiding needle positioning during peripheral nerve blocks, practitioners can begin to utilize ultrasound to look for patterns of anatomical significance. Recognizing anatomical variations among different demographic populations can help practitioners improve in performing nerve blocks. We aim to determine if predictable variability exists in sciatic nerve bifurcation location and depth at the level of the popliteal fossa.

Methods: After IRB approval, eligible subjects …