Ultrasound-guided root/trunk (interscalene) block for hand and forearm anesthesia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Historically, the anterolateral interscalene block--deposition of local anesthetic adjacent to the brachial plexus roots/trunks--has been used for surgical procedures involving the shoulder. The resulting block frequently failed to provide surgical anesthesia of the hand and forearm, even though the brachial plexus at this level included all of the axons of the upper-extremity terminal nerves. However, it remains unknown whether deposition of local anesthetic adjacent to the seventh cervical root or inferior trunk results in anesthesia of the hand and forearm.

Methods

Using ultrasound guidance and a needle-in-plane posterior approach, a Tuohy needle was positioned with the tip located between the deepest and next-deepest visualized brachial plexus root/trunk, foll

SUBMITTER: Madison SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3631428 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May-Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature