Efficacy and Safety of Different Local Anesthesia Techniques in Podiatric Procedures

Background and Objectives: Local anesthesia is essential in podiatry, ensuring painless procedures. Technological and pharmacological advances require us to stay updated on the safest and most effective techniques. Lidocaine and bupivacaine are common anesthetics in this field, with the choice of technique tailored to each procedure. To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of local anesthesia techniques in reducing pain in podiatric procedures. Materials and Methods: A systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines, searching for studies in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science published in the last 10 years in English and Spanish. Studies focused on local anesthesia in podiatry were included, excluding those unrelated or without validated results. Results: Of 485 initial studies, nine were selected that met all criteria. These studies demonstrated the efficacy and safety of various local anesthesia techniques, such as WALANT and ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks, highlighting their effectiveness in pain control and patient satisfaction. Conclusions: Local anesthesia techniques are effective in reducing pain in podiatric procedures. The safety of these techniques is high, with few serious complications. Local anesthesia without a tourniquet and specific techniques, such as subparaneural injection, are effective for pain control. Individual patient factors and surgeon experience influence results.