Effectiveness of Perineural Clonidine as an Adjuvant With Ropivacaine for Popliteal Nerve Block in Patients Undergoing Foot and Ankle Surgery

Nerve blocks are used to decrease the amount of pain you have after surgery. We are asking you to take part in a research study. This research study will test whether adding a medicine called clonidine to nerve blocks helps to improve them. Nerve blocks typically last less than a day after surgery. We are looking for ways to make them work better and last longer. Clonidine is approved for use as a blood pressure medicine. Its use in nerve blocks is investigational, but it may help nerve blocks to last longer. Adding clonidine to nerve blocks may also decrease the amount of pain medicine a person has after surgery. All people who enter this study will receive a nerve block with the normal medicine, but half of people will also have clonidine added to their nerve block. This study will enroll 60 participants from UAB hospitals.