“Comparison Study between Conservative Treatment and Nerve Block Treatment in Foot Pain”

Abstract

Objective: Ultrasound guidance nerve block in foot pain management is a new method in management of foot pain. It is simple, safe and cheap. We did this trial to compare the pain scores during both rest and activity and the functional ability after doing nerves block in comparison to patients who received non steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (conservative treatment). Materials and methods: We choose 90 patients in this double blind study, all are suffering of foot pain. Their ages ranging between35 and 80years, their weight ranging between 50 and 105 and their VAS pain scores between 6 and 9. We divided them into 2 groups, first group which has 45 patients who received NSAID only while the second group which also contain 45 patients who underwent nerve block. Results: The intensity of pain using VAS pain scores was small in the nerve block group after 6months, 1 year and 2 years in comparison with first group. The function scores of foot using American orthopedics of foot and ankle society scores (AOAFS) also was better in the second group (nerve block group). Conclusion: Ultrasound guidance ankle nerves block is better than using conservative anti-inflammatory drugs in reducing pain scores and improve the function capacity of the patients in patients with foot pain.