PIONEERING techniques are being used at Dorset County Hospital to improve the care of patients undergoing major ankle surgery.

A patient who experienced the new method of regional anaesthesia introduced at the county town hospital described it as ‘incredible’.

The new approach means that patients are now able to go home pain-free within 24 hours of their operation and can avoid the unpleasant side effects of general anaesthetic and strong painkillers.

The advanced technique involves blocking nerve fibres so the patient does not feel the foot being operated on.

It has been developed through a team effort involving consultant orthopaedic surgeon Nick Savva, consultant anaesthetist Dr Oliver Tweedie, physiotherapists Matt Flux and Mairi Rabbets and occupational therapist Hilary Caines.

One of the beneficiaries of the new approach was 71-year-old Bill Painter from West Stafford, who underwent ankle surgery with the regional anaesthesia, having experienced several operations with a general anaesthetic in the past.

He said: “It really is incredible. It’s like your body is in two halves during the operation – your top half functions normally, but from the waist down you can feel nothing.

“Being awake during surgery isn’t for everyone – you have a sheet in front of your head so you can’t see anything but you can hear everything going on.

“But everyone is very re-assuring and excellent at what they do.

“For me it was so much better than having an operation under a general anaesthetic – I would definitely have it done this way again.

“You don’t feel sick or dozy afterwards and you can be back at home far quicker.

“My ankle is much better now and I’m hoping this operation will be my last.”

Dr Tweedie said: “We are effectively taking the pain out of foot and ankle surgery.

“Major foot and ankle surgery is known to cause severe pain for more than 48 hours.

“We are sending patients home with a continuous nerve block, which means they are almost pain free for over three days.”

He added: “This technique means we can avoid giving patients a general anaesthetic and strong painkillers.

“Recovery time is much quicker and patients don’t suffer from a general anaesthetic hangover, nor do they get sick, dizzy or sleepy from the strong painkillers.

“Patients undergoing major ankle surgery used to have to stay in hospital for up to seven days, but now they can go home the same day, or within 24 hours.

“Very few hospitals in the country provide this service.

“It’s a very new technique and we are leading the way with this procedure.”

Dr Tweedie will be giving a presentation on the new technique being used at Dorset County Hospital to the sixth National Symposium on Ultrasound in Regional Anaesthesia and Pain at the Royal College of Physicians later this month.