Abstract In combination with a lumbar plexus, femoral, or saphenous nerve block, sciatic nerve blocks provide complete anesthesia and postoperative analgesia for lower-extremity surgery. Contrary to common belief, sciatic nerve blocks are relatively simple to perform and master. However, the deep location of the sciatic nerve mandates proper training and thorough knowledge of anatomy. Recently, there has been a resurgence of interest in sciatic nerve block techniques and several new and more reliable techniques have been described. This article provides an overview of the relevant anatomy, development in the field, and describes several common approaches to the sciatic nerve. Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.