Postoperative Analgesia Using a Perineural Catheter Versus a Single Nerve Block in Rearfoot Surgery (CATHORNOT)

A Comparative Evaluation of Postoperative Analgesia Using a Perineural Catheter Versus a Single Nerve Block in Rearfoot Surgery

Postoperative pain following hindfoot surgery is often severe and can persist for several days. It frequently leads to the use of systemic analgesics, particularly opioids, whose adverse effects are well known. Furthermore, poorly controlled postoperative pain is a recognized independent risk factor for the development of chronic pain.

Ambulatory perineural catheter techniques, already used in our department for hindfoot surgeries, allow for continuous infusion of local anesthetic. They have demonstrated their efficacy in numerous orthopedic surgeries, but data specific to hindfoot surgery remain limited. It therefore seems appropriate to evaluate whether prolonged analgesia via a perineural catheter improves postoperative pain management and promotes functional recovery.

The study is conducted as a practice evaluation audit. It relies on the collection of data from routine care, without any modification to intraoperative care. This methodology allows for an objective evaluation of the benefits of the perineural catheter compared to a single-injection popliteal sciatic block with local anesthetic, while documenting the frequency and nature of complications associated with the technique (leaks, accidental or intentional catheter removal).

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Analgesia; Hindfoot Surgery; Perineural Catheter
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Phone contact; Procedure: Regional Anesthesia; Device: perineural catheter

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 60

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Benjamin DUMARTINET; Phone Number: +33 241353637; Email: benjamin.dumartinet@chu-angers.fr

Study Locations

• France
  • Angers, France
    • University Hospital of Angers
    • Contact: Benjamin DUMARTINET; Phone Number: +33 241353637; Email: benjamin.dumartinet@chu-angers.fr

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

University Hospital of Angers

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult patients;
• Patients with an American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status (ASA score) of 1, 2, or 3;
• Patients who have undergone hindfoot surgery;
• Patients capable of completing the questionnaires.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Contraindications to regional anesthesia (known hypersensitivity to the local anesthetic, infection at the injection site, uncontrolled neurological condition);
• Emergency surgery
• Cognitive impairment;
• Uncontrolled psychiatric condition;
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding;
• Substance abuse;
• Use of neuroleptics or lithium;
• Individuals subject to legal guardianship
• Individuals deprived of liberty by judicial or administrative order
• Patients who object to the study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
regional anesthesia	Other: Phone contact; All patients are contacted by phone to assess pain during movement and at rest on each of the first 3 days after surgery, as well as their use of various pain medications; Procedure: Regional Anesthesia; regional anesthesia
ambulatory perineural catheter	Other: Phone contact; All patients are contacted by phone to assess pain during movement and at rest on each of the first 3 days after surgery, as well as their use of various pain medications; Device: perineural catheter; Use of a perineural catheter for ambulatory analgesia

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pain on movement using a numerical scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (maximum pain)	Postoperative pain on movement at Day 1. Pain intensity during movement assessed using an 11-point Numerical Rating Scale (NRS; 0 = no pain, 10 = worst possible pain)	Day 1 postoperative

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Daily postoperative consumption of morphine equivalents in milligrams	Daily	Baseline, Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3
Daily postoperative use of non-opioid analgesics	Daily	Baseline, Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3
postoperative pain at rest using a numerical scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (maximum pain)	to assess analgesic efficacy at rest	Postoperative Day 0 through Postoperative Day 3
postoperative pain during mobilization using a numerical scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (maximum pain)	to evaluate the analgesic efficacy during mobilization	From Baseline to Day 3
Postoperative consumption of morphine equivalents in milligrams	Cumulative	Postoperative Day 0 through Postoperative Day 3
Postoperative use of non-opioid analgesics	Cumulative	Postoperative Day 0 through Postoperative Day 3
French Quality of Recovery -15 score (FQoR-15 - from 0 to 150)	to assess functional recovery and postoperative rehabilitation	Postoperative Day 0 through Postoperative Day 2
Proportion of patients experiencing at least one adverse event related to the regional anesthesia technique	Accidental or intentional removal of the catheter Leaks at the injection site or in the infusion system Bruise or local infection Falls potentially related to the residual motor block	Postoperative Day 0 through Postoperative Day 3
proportion of patients experiencing at least one postoperative complication following hindfoot surgery	Readmission to the hospital Consultation with the attending physician for uncontrolled postoperative pain or complications related to the procedure Confirmed infection with antibiotic treatment initiated	Postoperative Day 0 through Postoperative Day 3
length of hospital stay, calculated in whole days	Duration censored on Day 3 if the patient is still hospitalized on that date	Postoperative Day 0 through Postoperative Day 3

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Hospital, Angers
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Benjamin DUMARTINET, University Hospital of Angers

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): September 20, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 7, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 27, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 5, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 5, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 10, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 8, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 2, 2026
• Last Verified: September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Perceptual Disorders; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Agnosia; Anesthesia and Analgesia; Anesthesia; Anesthesia, Conduction
• Other Study ID Numbers: 49RC26_0116

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No