Evaluation of bupivacaine-clonidine combination for unilateral spinal anesthesia in lower limb below-knee orthopedic surgery.

Background And Objectives: The purposes of this study were to evaluate the onset, quality and duration of sensory and motor blockade between hyperbaric bupivacaine and clonidine combination with bupivacaine alone when administered intrathecally for unilateral spinal anesthesia in below-knee orthopedic surgery, efficacy of clonidine for post-operative analgesia and side-effects of clonidine, if any.

Methods: Sixty ASA I and ASA II patients scheduled for elective surgery with time duration up to 90 min were studied. Patients were randomised in two equal groups by the lottery method.