Effects of Interscalene Brachial Plexus Nerve Blocks on the Hand and Forearm

University of California San Diego

Status: Completed

Conditions: Shoulder Surgery; Interscalene Nerve Block

Treatments: Procedure: Interscalene Nerve Block

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01229683

Madison Block

Details and patient eligibility

About

Research study to determine the proportion of cases in which an interscalene brachial plexus nerve block produces hand and forearm anesthesia.

Full description

This is a research study to prospectively determine the proportion of cases in which an interscalene brachial plexus nerve block produces hand and forearm anesthesia. The investigators will investigate this issue in patients having shoulder and not hand/forearm surgery. We will test hand grip strength and sensation to determine if the hand and forearm are responding to the anesthesia.

Enrollment: 62 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 18 years of age or older
• unilateral orthopedic shoulder surgery
• already desiring an interscalene brachial plexus nerve block for postoperative analgesia with the anesthetic plan including a preoperative interscalene nerve block with mepivacaine

Exclusion criteria

• any known contraindication to study medications or testing hand grip strength pre/post-op
• insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
• neuropathy of any etiology in the affected extremity
• any anticipated incision site apart from the shoulder
• Obesity
• Pregnancy
• Incarceration
• inability to communicate with the investigators and hospital staff

Trial design

62 participants in 1 patient group

Shoulder Surgery

Description:

Patients will be given an interscalene nerve block and then strength and sensation of the hand and forearm will be tested to determine if the block is helping to anesthetize these areas.

Treatment:

Procedure: Interscalene Nerve Block