Comparison of the potential short and long term benefits of the use of a continuous popliteal nerve block compared to a single shot technique in patients undergoing surgical repair of ankle fractures

INTERVENTION: Single shot popliteal nerve block followed by randomisation to receive either a continuous popliteal nerve block using 0.125% levobupivacaine or placebo infusion. For each patient, in hospital follow up will continue for 48 hours after their surgical procedure. Patients will then be contacted at 3 months post‐procedure and asked to fill in a repeat Magill pain questionnaire. This will be the end of the study for this patient. Added 09/08/2011: Study did not commence due to issues with equipment & funding CONDITION: Surgical repair of ankle fracture ; Surgery ; Post‐surgical pain PRIMARY OUTCOME: Reduction in the incidence of chronic ankle pain at three months post‐procedure SECONDARY OUTCOME: 1. Post‐operative morphine usage assessed at designated times in the post‐operative period: one hour after surgery before leaving the recovery area and at 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 30, 36 and 48 hours after the procedure; 2. Time to first mobilisation, recorded at time to first mobilisation; 3. Difference in pain scores in both the post‐operative period and on first mobilisation assessed at designated times in the post‐operative period: one hour after surgery before leaving the recovery area and at 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 30, 36 and 48 hours after the procedure and on first mobilisation; 4. Total length of hospital stay, recorded from the day of admission to day of discharge; 5. Patient satisfaction assessed at the end of the 48 hour post‐operative period using the 40‐item quality of recovery (QoR‐40) questionnaire INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) class I ‐ III 2. Patients able to give written informed consent 3. Patients awaiting operative repair of an ankle fracture 4. Aged between 18 ‐ 80 years, either sex