Please confirm that an ethics committee approval has been applied for or granted: Yes: I’m uploading the Ethics Committee Approval as a PDF file with this abstract submission

Background and Aims Popliteal sciatic nerve block performed in lateral position usually requires a change in position for the patient. This is time consuming and may cause discomfort to the patient. This prospective study compared patients‘ preference and peri-operative outcomes in supine position via medial approach to the sciatic nerve and lateral position via lateral approach to the nerve.

Methods 50 patients from Ng Teng Fong General hospital (NTFGH) who were undergoing popliteal sciatic nerve block with or without sedation from July 2022 to February 2024 were recruited for the study and randomised to either receive the block in supine or lateral position.

Results This study showed that there were significantly more patients in the supine group preferring to be in supine position during the block with p-valve <0.001. 45.8% of patients who had the block performed in lateral position preferred supine position instead. There was no significant difference in the peri-operative outcomes or duration taken for block completion. Most patients preferred to be in the supine position for popliteal sciatic nerve block as it was more comfortable.

Conclusions Performing the block in supine position is non-inferior to performing it in lateral position in terms of safety, efficacy and efficiency profile.