Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026

The Sciatic Nerve Cuffing Model of Neuropathic Pain in Mice
Published on: July 16, 2014
Clonidine and analgesic duration after popliteal fossa nerve blockade: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Jacques T YaDeau1, Vincent R LaSala, Leonardo Paroli
1Department of Anesthesiology, Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York City, NY 10011, USA. yadeauj@hss.edu
Background:
We tested the hypothesis that 100 microg clonidine added to 0.375% bupivacaine would prolong the duration of analgesia from popliteal fossa nerve blockade.
Methods:
Ninety-nine patients scheduled for hospital admission after foot or ankle surgery entered this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Patients received a popliteal fossa block (nerve stimulator technique, via the posterior approach) using 30 mL 0.375% bupivacaine, with epinephrine. Patients were randomized to receive no clonidine, 100 microg clonidine IM, or 100 microg clonidine with bupivacaine for the popliteal block. Patients also received a combined spinal-epidural anesthetic, a saphenous nerve block, and postoperative IV patient-controlled analgesia. The primary outcome was patient-reported duration of analgesia.
Results:
Duration of analgesia was statistically longer in the block clonidine group (18 +/- 6 h for clonidine with bupivacaine vs 14 +/- 7 h for IM clonidine and 15 +/- 7 h for control, P = 0.016 for control vs clonidine with bupivacaine). Pain scores, analgesic use, and side effects attributable to pain management were similar among groups.
Conclusions:
Clonidine significantly prolongs the analgesic duration after popliteal fossa nerve blockade with bupivacaine.
Related Concept Videos
Analgesia and Pain Management
Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Intravenous Regional Anesthesia
One of the advantages of...
Local Anesthetics: Pharmacokinetics
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Surface, Infiltration, and Conduction Block Anesthesia
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia
