Ulnar Nerve Block for Procedural Anesthesia - Wrist Versus Palm

Not Applicable

Terminated

• Conditions: Hand Surgery

• Registration Number: NCT00827658
• Lead Sponsor: Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation

Brief Summary

Ulnar nerve blockade is necessary for sensory anesthesia and analgesia in the hand during minor procedures. The course of the ulnar nerve in the forearm, wrist, and hand is predictable and has low variability. However even with known anatomic location and landmarks, ulnar nerve blocks at the wrist frequently are inadequate for procedural anesthesia. The antebrachial fascia at the wrist acts as a barrier to local infiltration. Since the fascia can not be visualized or palpated, it is commonly not penetrated, resulting in an inadequate block. Furthermore at the level of the wrist the ulnar artery lies in close proximity to the nerve and there is potential for arterial puncture while attempting injection for volar wrist block. The palmar ulnar nerve block is an injection distal to the hook of the hamate in the thenar eminence which avoids the ulnar artery and antebrachial fascia. This block has been used successfully for many years in clinical practice but has not been assessed or compared in a research study. The purpose of this study is to assess the validity of using a palmar ulnar nerve block for procedures in the hand as compared to the standard volar wrist ulnar nerve block.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2008-02
• Study First Submitted: 2009-01-21
• Study First Submitted QC: 2009-01-22
• Study First Posted: 2009-01-23
• Primary Completion: 2009-07
• Study Completion: 2009-07
• Status Verified: 2018-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2018-05-08
• Last Update Posted: 2018-05-14

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: TERMINATED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 127

Inclusion Criteria

• any individual who can give informed consent and is scheduled for elective hand procedures by the PI necessitating an Ulnar nerve block of the hand.

Exclusion Criteria

• patients unable to give informed consent
• patients with previous or ongoing ulnar nerve deficits or neuropathy
• patients undergoing Guyon's canal decompression
• patients who can not comprehend or cooperate with assessment testing
• patients with abnormal two point discrimination (> 6 mm at the test location) prior to the nerve block

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Primary outcome is efficacy of sensory anesthesia and analgesia	15-45 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Secondary outcome is patient perceived discomfort with block	15-45 Minutes

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Hamilton General Hospital; 🇨🇦 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada