Saphenous Nerve Block
What is a saphenous nerve and why do I need a saphenous nerve block?
Saphenous nerve is a nerve that provides sensation to the inner compartment and some part of the front compartment of the knee joint. It also supplies the inner aspect of the leg, ankle and foot. Saphenous nerve block is used in the treatment of chronic knee pain and a condition called saphenous neuralgia. The symptoms of saphenous neuralgia include an unpleasant painful sensation on the inner side of the lower leg. Patients may sometimes report severe burning and stabbing pain.
What should I expect during the procedure?
At Atlas Pain Care, Coimbatore, you will be asked to change into a hospital gown and taken to our procedure room. Your leg will be cleaned with antiseptic solution and draped. The injection site is then identified using ultrasound or X-rays and a small amount of local anaesthetic is injected into the skin overlying the injection site to numb the skin. The medications are then given through a longer needle that has been positioned in the exact spot using ultrasound or X-ray guidance. You may feel some discomfort during the injection, but this normally settles quickly.
The whole procedure will take around about 15 minutes, and post procedure you will be observed in recovery room for 30 minutes and then discharged home. You may need to rest at home for the remainder of the day. But you should be able to resume your normal activities the next day. You might feel some numbness/weakness in your knee joint. But that should go away within a few hours.
When the pain relief is good, but short lived, a pulsed radiofrequency lesioning of the saphenous nerve could provide long-term benefit. In this procedure, an electric needle is guided under image-control to be positioned closer to the nerves, which are then gently stunned with the pulsed radiofrequency current.
What are the risks of the procedure?
As with most procedures, there is a remote risk of bleeding, infection, nerve injury or allergic reaction to the medications used. Injection site pain/soreness is the most common complication that is temporary.
Please read our FAQ section to know more about the do's and don'ts prior to and after the procedure.