Three methods of blocking the brachial plexus with a supraclavicular approach are presented. The pros and cons of using this technique, as well as its usefulness, are discussed. The four most commonly used drugs for blocks also are examined. A 270% increase in blood flow to the arm is achieved by this block but, with the addition of epinephrine, it can be increased to 430%. The permeability of ...

While most often transient, brachial plexus birth injury can cause permanent neurologic injury. The major risk factors for brachial plexus birth injury are fetal macrosomia and shoulder dystocia. The degree of injury to the brachial plexus should be determined in the neonatal nursery, as those infants with the most severe injury--root avulsion--should be referred early for surgical evaluation s...

Interscalene brachial plexus block provides effective anesthesia and analgesia for shoulder surgery. One of the disadvantages of this technique is the risk of hemidiaphragmatic paresis, which can occur as a result of phrenic nerve block and can cause a decrease in the pulmonary function, limiting the use of the block in patients with reduced functional residual capacity or a preexisting pulmona...

There are multiple sites at which the brachial plexus block can be induced in selecting regional anesthesia for upper extremity surgical patients. The most frequently used blocks are axillary, infraclavicular, supraclavicular, and interscalene. One must understand brachial plexus anatomy to use these blocks effectively, as well as the practical clinical differences between the blocks. Axillary ...

Comment on 'Capnography as an aid in localizing the phrenic nerve in brachial plexus surgery. Technical note' Bhagat H, Agarwal A, Sharma MSJournal of Brachial Plexus and Peripheral Nerve Injury 2008, 3:14 (22 May 2008).

neurolymphomatosis is a rare manifestation of non-hodgkin lymphoma characterized by infiltration of peripheral nerves, nerve roots, plexus and cranial nerves by malignant lymphocytes. this report presents positron emission tomography/computed tomography (pet/ct)imaging with 2-deoxy-2-18f-fluoro-d-glucose (18f-fdg) in 3 cases of non-hodgkin lymphoma with nerve infiltration, including one newly d...

This article reports a series of severe permanent brachial plexus injuries in American football players. The authors describe the mechanisms of injury and outcomes from a more contemporary treatment approach in the form of nerve transfer tailored to the specific injuries sustained. Three cases of nerve transfer for brachial plexus injury in American football players are discussed in detail. Two...

Basic studies were carried out to apply frozen allogeneic nerve grafts in dogs after wide-ranging defects of the brachial plexus due to surgical resection of tumor. In this study, morphological variations in branching patterns of the brachial plexus were examined in ten beagle dogs, to evaluate whether the brachial plexus might represent a useful source of allogeneic nerve grafts. Spatial relat...

Ultrasound-guided nerve blocks are becoming more essential for the management of acute pain in the emergency department (ED). With increased block frequency comes unexpected complications that require prompt recognition and treatment. The superficial cervical plexus block (SCPB) has been recently described as a method for ED management of clavicle fracture pain. Horner's syndrome (HS) is a rare...

Successful brachial plexus block requires a thorough knowledge of anatomy, both to decide on the appropriate approach and to locate the nerves. The plexus is traditionally found at specific anatomical points by using bony or vascular landmarks, whereas ultrasound allows block of the plexus at any point along its length. The course of the brachial plexus and its relationship to nearby structures...