Articles: nerve-block.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Apr 2005
A magnetic resonance imaging analysis of the infraclavicular region: can brachial plexus depth be estimated before needle insertion?
In this study we examined the anatomy of the infraclavicular region to assess the possibility of estimating brachial plexus depth before performing an infraclavicular block, by using readily identifiable landmarks such as the coracoid process (CP) and the clavicle (CL). Four parasagittal planes across the infraclavicular region were analyzed in 21 individual series of magnetic resonance imaging studies. Measurements included distance to the plexus from the skin of the anterior chest wall, position of the plexus relative to the CL, and clavicular width. ⋯ Furthermore, not only is it uncommon to find the lung in this same parasagittal plane, but when it does appear, it is well behind the plexus. Estimating plexus depth, or "depth gauging," in the infraclavicular region is achievable and is a potentially useful strategy. Further study is required to confirm this finding in the clinical environment.
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Treatment of the trauma patient has evolved rapidly in the past decade. Nevertheless, the treatment of pain as part of overall trauma management has been relatively neglected. This update reviews recent publications related to pain relief in the trauma patient. ⋯ Educating the emergency room staff to perform early routine assessment of pain and to be familiar with the administration of analgesia are key elements to improved pain management in trauma. Peripheral nerve block techniques should be practised by emergency room staff. If simple techniques are chosen, competence can be achieved with short, focused training sessions. Further developments are needed in order to provide safer and more effective analgesia to the trauma patient.
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Chronic refractory spinal pain poses a peculiar diagnostic challenge because of multiple putative pain sources, overlapping clinical features, and nonspecific radiologic findings. Diagnostic injection techniques are employed to isolate the source(s) of pain. Facet or zygapophysial joint pain is an example of spinal pain diagnosed by local anesthetic injections of the facet joint or its nerve supply. Diagnostic facet joint injections are expected to meet the cardinal features of a diagnostic test (i.e., accuracy, safety and reproducibility). Accuracy must be compared with a "gold" or criterion standard that can confirm presence or absence of a disease. There is, however, no available gold standard, such as biopsy, to measure presence or absence of pain. Hence, there is a degree of uncertainty concerning the accuracy of diagnostic facet joint injections. ⋯ The evidence obtained from literature review suggests that controlled comparative local anesthetic blocks of facet joint nerves (medial branch or dorsal ramus) are reproducible, reasonably accurate, and safe. The sensitivity, specificity, false-positive rates, and predictive values of these diagnostic tests for neck and low back pain have been validated and reproduced in multiple studies.
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Transforaminal epidural injections, or selective nerve root blocks, are used for a myriad of different spinal disorders. A clear consensus on the use of selective nerve root injections as a diagnostic tool does not currently exist. Additionally, the effectiveness of this procedure as a diagnostic tool is not clear. ⋯ Selective nerve root injections may be helpful as a diagnostic addition in evaluating spinal disorders with radicular features, but the role of this diagnostic test needs to be further clarified by additional research and consensus on technique.