Ultrasound-guided and nerve-stimulator assisted sciatic and saphenous nerve blocks in a goat undergoing tarsal fracture repair

Regional anesthesia for pelvic limb surgeries can provide perioperative analgesia, possibly decreasing the need for systemic analgesics and unwanted side effects, such as ruminal tympany or ileus. Several ultrasound-guided techniques for sciatic and femoral or saphenous nerve block have been described in dogs ( Campoy et al., 2010 Campoy L. Bezuidenhout A.J. Gleed R.D. et al. Ultrasound-guided approach for axillary brachial plexus, femoral nerve, and sciatic nerve blocks in dogs. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2010; 37: 144-153 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (112) Google Scholar ; Portela et al., 2018 Portela D.A. Verdier N. Otero P.E. Regional anesthetic techniques for the pelvic limb and abdominal wall in small animals: a review of the literature and technique description. Vet J. 2018; 238: 27-40 Crossref PubMed Scopus (34) Google Scholar ); however, only nerve stimulation–assisted techniques have been described in goats ( Adami et al., 2011 Adami C. Bergadano A. Bruckmaier R.M. et al. Sciatic-femoral nerve block with bupivacaine in goats undergoing elective stifle arthrotomy. Vet J. 2011; 188: 53-57 Crossref PubMed Scopus (21) Google Scholar ; Shippy et al., 2021 Shippy S.G. Romano M. Portela D.A. Lumbosacral plexus block in a goat undergoing pelvic limb amputation. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2021; 48: 151-152 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar ). This letter describes the use of ultrasound-guided saphenous and sciatic nerve blocks in a goat undergoing external fixation for a tarsal fracture.