Specific Aim: The investigators propose to test the hypothesis that when placing a perineural catheter for a continuous peripheral nerve block, injecting the initial local anesthetic bolus via the insertion needle results in a faster-onset sensory block than injecting the initial bolus via the perineural catheter. The study results will help define the optimal local anesthetic bolus introduction technique-needle versus catheter-for peripheral nerve blocks when placing a perineural catheter.
The investigators propose to test the hypothesis that when placing a perineural catheter for a continuous peripheral nerve block, injecting the initial local anesthetic bolus via the insertion needle results in a faster-onset sensory block than injecting the initial bolus via the perineural catheter. The study results will help define the optimal local anesthetic bolus introduction technique-needle versus catheter-for peripheral nerve blocks when placing a perineural catheter.