The blockade of the sciatic nerve in the popliteal fossa is a common technique used to provide regional anaesthesia and analgesia for surgeries involving the foot and ankle. With the advent of ultrasound for performing nerve blocks, it has greatly reduced the chances of block failure.

                       There is reduction in the volume of local anaesthetic with real time visualization of the drug spread. Positioning the patient may not be always possible. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the hypothesis that crosswise approach of popliteal sciatic nerve blockade through common paraneural sheath results shorter onset time when compared with post bifurcation injection external to the paraneural tissue

 MATERIALS AND METHODS:

                After obtaining the institutional ethical committee approval, 80 ASA I II and III patients who met the inclusion criteria were selected and randomly divided into 2 groups of 40 each.

                GROUP A patients received single injection of ultrasound- guided crosswise approach of popliteal sciatic block at the site of bifurcation through a common peroneal sheath 

               GROUP B patients received ultrasound- guided crosswise approach of popliteal sciatic blockade 2 separate circumferential injections of the tibial and common peroneal nerves distally to sciatic nerve.

                In both groups , The comfort of the patient with respect to positioning, The onset of sensory block (in minutes), the onset of motor block, and any complications also documented.