Ulnar Nerve Block: Difference between revisions

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{{Ported|source=[https://wikem.org/wiki/Nerve_Block:_Ulnar_Nerve WikiEM]|license=CC-BY-SA|license-link=https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/}}
==Background==
==Background==
*Ulnar nerve block is a quick, safe, and effective means of pain reduction for hand injuries, including reduction of [[Boxer's Fracture]]<ref>รœnlรผer, EE. Ultrasound-guided Ulnar Nerve Block For Boxers Fractures. Am.J.Emerg.Med. 2016;34(8):1726.</ref>
[[File:Nerves of the left upper extremity.gif|thumb|Nerves of the left upper extremity.]]
[[File:Gray421.png|thumb|Transverse section across distal ends of radius and ulna.]]
*Ulnar nerve block is a quick, safe, and effective means of pain reduction for hand injuries, including reduction of Boxer's Fracture<ref>รœnlรผer, EE. Ultrasound-guided Ulnar Nerve Block For Boxers Fractures. Am.J.Emerg.Med. 2016;34(8):1726.</ref>


==Indications==
==Indications==
*[[Boxer's Fracture]]
*Boxer's Fracture
*[[Burns|Hand Burns]]
*Hand Burns
*[[Hand and finger tendon injuries|Complex Hand Injury]]
*Complex Hand Injury
*Need for pain control or to perform painful procedure in distribution of ulnar nerve
*Need for pain control or to perform painful procedure in distribution of ulnar nerve


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==Equipment Needed==
==Equipment Needed==
*10 cc Syringe with a 27 Gauge Needle
*10 cc Syringe with a 27 Gauge Needle
*Blunt fill needle (to draw up anesthetic)
*Blunt fill needle (to draw up anaesthetic)
*Local Anesthetic (e.g. [[Lidocaine]] or [[Bupivacaine]])
*Local Anaesthetic (e.g. [[Lidocaine]] or [[Bupivacaine]])
*Antiseptic (e.g. Chlorhexidine, Betadine)
*Antiseptic (e.g. Chlorhexidine, Betadine)
*Sterile Gloves ย 
*Sterile Gloves ย 
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*Obtain informed consent
*Obtain informed consent
**Patient should be made aware that they will lose both sensory and motor function of the ulnar distribution until the anesthetic wears off
**Patient should be made aware that they will lose both sensory and motor function of the ulnar distribution until the anaesthetic wears off
*Place the patient's extremity in the supinated position
*Place the patient's extremity in the supinated position
*Cleanse the skin with chosen antiseptic
*Cleanse the skin with chosen antiseptic
*Create a sterile field using sterile drape
*Create a sterile field using sterile drape
*In a sterile fashion, apply a small wheel of local anesthetic to the area immediately medial to tendon of the Flexor Carpi Ulnaris and approximately 2 cm proximal to the wrist crease.
*In a sterile fashion, apply a small wheel of local anaesthetic to the area immediately medial to tendon of the Flexor Carpi Ulnaris and approximately 2 cm proximal to the wrist crease.
*The ulnar nerve should be immediately deep to the Flexor Carpi Ulnaris Tendon
*The ulnar nerve should be immediately deep to the Flexor Carpi Ulnaris Tendon


===Non-Ultrasound Guided Technique=== ย 
===Non-Ultrasound Guided Technique=== ย 
*Direct the Needle radially, deep to the Flexor Carpi Ulnaris
*Direct the Needle radially, deep to the Flexor Carpi Ulnaris
*The ulnar nerve is ulnar in relation to the ulnar artery; even still, it is important to aspirate prior to injecting anesthetic to rule out intra-arterial placement
*The ulnar nerve is ulnar in relation to the ulnar artery; even still, it is important to aspirate prior to injecting anaesthetic to rule out intra-arterial placement
*Discontinue and reposition should the patient report shooting "electrical" pains or numbness prior to injection
*Discontinue and reposition should the patient report shooting "electrical" pains or numbness prior to injection
*Inject approximately 5 mL of local anesthetic
*Inject approximately 5 mL of local anesthetic
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*Make sure to aspirate prior to injecting to rule out vascular penetration (low risk given ultrasound guidance)
*Make sure to aspirate prior to injecting to rule out vascular penetration (low risk given ultrasound guidance)
*Discontinue and reposition should the patient report shooting "electrical" pains or numbness prior to injection
*Discontinue and reposition should the patient report shooting "electrical" pains or numbness prior to injection
*Inject approximately 5 mL of local anesthetic in the area immediately surrounding the Ulnar Nerve
*Inject approximately 5 mL of local anaesthetic in the area immediately surrounding the Ulnar Nerve
==Elbow Block Procedure==
==Elbow Block Procedure==
[[File:Ulnar_Elbow.jpg|thumb|Ulnar Nerve Path at Elbow]]
[[File:Ulnar_Elbow.jpg|thumb|Ulnar Nerve Path at Elbow]]
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*Cleanse the skin with chosen antiseptic
*Cleanse the skin with chosen antiseptic
*Create a sterile field using sterile drape
*Create a sterile field using sterile drape
*In a sterile fashion, apply a superficial small wheel of local anesthetic to the area proximal to the medial humeral epicondyle
*In a sterile fashion, apply a superficial small wheel of local anaesthetic to the area proximal to the medial humeral epicondyle
===Non-Ultrasound Guided Technique=== ย 
===Non-Ultrasound Guided Technique=== ย 
*Injection site should be chosen approximately 2-3 cm proximal to the sulcus ulnaris groove
*Injection site should be chosen approximately 2-3 cm proximal to the sulcus ulnaris groove
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*Aspirate prior to injection to rule out intravascular placement
*Aspirate prior to injection to rule out intravascular placement
*Discontinue and reposition should the patient report shooting "electrical" pains or numbness prior to injection
*Discontinue and reposition should the patient report shooting "electrical" pains or numbness prior to injection
*Inject approximately 3-5 mL of local anesthetic
*Inject approximately 3-5 mL of local anaesthetic


==Complications==
==Complications==
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*Bleeding/hematoma
*Bleeding/hematoma
*Neurapraxia
*Neurapraxia
==See Also==
*[[Nerve blocks (main)]]
*[[Local anesthetic systemic toxicity]]


==External Links==
==External Links==
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==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>
ย 
[[Category:Elbow and Forearm Procedures]]
[[Category:Elbow & Forearm Procedures]]
[[Category:Hand and Wrist Procedures]]
[[Category:Hand & Wrist Procedures]]
[[Category:Pages with broken file links]]

Latest revision as of 21:38, 4 May 2022

This is ported content from WikiEM
It is subject to the compatible CC-BY-SA license.


Background

Nerves of the left upper extremity.
Transverse section across distal ends of radius and ulna.
  • Ulnar nerve block is a quick, safe, and effective means of pain reduction for hand injuries, including reduction of Boxer's Fracture[1]

Indications

  • Boxer's Fracture
  • Hand Burns
  • Complex Hand Injury
  • Need for pain control or to perform painful procedure in distribution of ulnar nerve

Contraindications

  • Infection overlying injection site

Equipment Needed

  • 10 cc Syringe with a 27 Gauge Needle
  • Blunt fill needle (to draw up anaesthetic)
  • Local Anaesthetic (e.g. Lidocaine or Bupivacaine)
  • Antiseptic (e.g. Chlorhexidine, Betadine)
  • Sterile Gloves
  • Sterile Drape and sterile ultrasound probe cover
  • Linear Ultrasound Probe

Wrist Block Procedure

Ulnar Nerve Block at the Wrist
Ulnar Nerve at the Distal Wrist
Following the Ulnar Nerve Distally
  • Obtain informed consent
    • Patient should be made aware that they will lose both sensory and motor function of the ulnar distribution until the anaesthetic wears off
  • Place the patient's extremity in the supinated position
  • Cleanse the skin with chosen antiseptic
  • Create a sterile field using sterile drape
  • In a sterile fashion, apply a small wheel of local anaesthetic to the area immediately medial to tendon of the Flexor Carpi Ulnaris and approximately 2 cm proximal to the wrist crease.
  • The ulnar nerve should be immediately deep to the Flexor Carpi Ulnaris Tendon

Non-Ultrasound Guided Technique

  • Direct the Needle radially, deep to the Flexor Carpi Ulnaris
  • The ulnar nerve is ulnar in relation to the ulnar artery; even still, it is important to aspirate prior to injecting anaesthetic to rule out intra-arterial placement
  • Discontinue and reposition should the patient report shooting "electrical" pains or numbness prior to injection
  • Inject approximately 5 mL of local anesthetic

Ultrasound Guided Technique

  • Have a partner help place the Linear Ultrasound Probe into the Sterile Probe Cover
  • Starting mid forearm of the volar aspect in a transverse plane, locate the Ulnar Nerve
  • Sliding Distally, the Ulnar Nerve and Artery should separate from each other
  • Injection site is generally approximately 2 cm proximal to the wrist crease.
  • In plane, visualize the needle on the Ultrasound monitor as you advance towards the Ulnar Nerve.
  • Make sure to aspirate prior to injecting to rule out vascular penetration (low risk given ultrasound guidance)
  • Discontinue and reposition should the patient report shooting "electrical" pains or numbness prior to injection
  • Inject approximately 5 mL of local anaesthetic in the area immediately surrounding the Ulnar Nerve

Elbow Block Procedure

Ulnar Nerve Path at Elbow
  • Obtain informed consent
    • Patient should be made aware that they will lose both sensory and motor function of the ulnar distribution until the anesthetic wears off
  • Place the patient's extremity in the supinated position with elbow flexed between 45 & 90 degrees
  • Cleanse the skin with chosen antiseptic
  • Create a sterile field using sterile drape
  • In a sterile fashion, apply a superficial small wheel of local anaesthetic to the area proximal to the medial humeral epicondyle

Non-Ultrasound Guided Technique

  • Injection site should be chosen approximately 2-3 cm proximal to the sulcus ulnaris groove
    • This is done as the ulnar nerve is relatively fixed in the tight groove and it is important to minimize risk of direct nerve trauma and neurapraxia due to pressure build up
  • Direct the needle cephalad at 45 degrees[2]
  • Aspirate prior to injection to rule out intravascular placement
  • Discontinue and reposition should the patient report shooting "electrical" pains or numbness prior to injection
  • Inject approximately 3-5 mL of local anaesthetic

Complications

  • Inadvertent intravascular injection
  • Infection
  • Bleeding/hematoma
  • Neurapraxia

External Links

References

  1. โ†‘ รœnlรผer, EE. Ultrasound-guided Ulnar Nerve Block For Boxers Fractures. Am.J.Emerg.Med. 2016;34(8):1726.
  2. โ†‘ McCahon, RA et al. Peripheral nerve block at the elbow and wrist. Contin Educ Anaesth Crit Care Pain (2007) 7 (2): 42-44.