Department of Clinical Medicine

TY - JOUR

T1 - Randomized trial of ultrasound-guided superior cluneal nerve block

AU - Nielsen, Thomas Dahl

AU - Moriggl, Bernhard

AU - Barckman, Jeppe

AU - Jensen, Jan Mick

AU - Kolsen-Petersen, Jens Aage

AU - Soballe, Kjeld

AU - Borglum, Jens

AU - Bendtsen, Thomas Fichtner

PY - 2019/8

Y1 - 2019/8

N2 - Background and objectives The superior cluneal nerves originate from the dorsal rami of primarily the upper lumbar spinal nerves. The nerves cross the iliac spine to innervate the skin and subcutaneous tissue over the gluteal region. The nerves extend as far as the greater trochanter and the area of innervation may overlap anterolaterally with the iliohypogastric and the lateral femoral cutaneous (LFC) nerves. A selective ultrasound-guided nerve block technique of the superior cluneal nerves does not exist. A reliable nerve block technique may have application in the management of postoperative pain after hip surgery as well as other clinical conditions, for example, chronic lower back pain. In the present study, the primary aim was to describe a novel ultrasound-guided superior cluneal nerve block technique and to map the area of cutaneous anesthesia and its coverage of the hip surgery incisions.Methods The study was carried out as two separate investigations. First, dissection of 12 cadaver sides was conducted in order to test a novel superior cluneal nerve block technique. Second, this nerve block technique was applied in a randomized trial of 20 healthy volunteers. Initially, the LFC, the subcostal and the iliohypogastric nerves were blocked bilaterally. A transversalis fascia plane (TFP) block technique was used to block the iliohypogastric nerve. Subsequently, randomized, blinded superior cluneal nerve blocks were conducted with active block on one side and placebo block contralaterally.Results Successful anesthesia after the superior cluneal nerve block was achieved in 18 of 20 active sides (90%). The area of anesthesia after all successful superior cluneal nerve blocks was adjacent and posterior to the area anesthetized by the combined TFP and subcostal nerve blocks. The addition of the superior cluneal nerve block significantly increased the anesthetic coverage of the various types of hip surgery incisions.Conclusion The novel ultrasound-guided nerve block technique reliably anesthetizes the superior cluneal nerves. It anesthetizes the skin posterior to the area innervated by the iliohypogastric and subcostal nerves. It improves the anesthetic coverage of incisions used for hip surgery. Among potential indications, this new nerve block may improve postoperative analgesia after hip surgery and may be useful as a diagnostic block for various chronic pain conditions. Clinical trials are mandated.

AB - Background and objectives The superior cluneal nerves originate from the dorsal rami of primarily the upper lumbar spinal nerves. The nerves cross the iliac spine to innervate the skin and subcutaneous tissue over the gluteal region. The nerves extend as far as the greater trochanter and the area of innervation may overlap anterolaterally with the iliohypogastric and the lateral femoral cutaneous (LFC) nerves. A selective ultrasound-guided nerve block technique of the superior cluneal nerves does not exist. A reliable nerve block technique may have application in the management of postoperative pain after hip surgery as well as other clinical conditions, for example, chronic lower back pain. In the present study, the primary aim was to describe a novel ultrasound-guided superior cluneal nerve block technique and to map the area of cutaneous anesthesia and its coverage of the hip surgery incisions.Methods The study was carried out as two separate investigations. First, dissection of 12 cadaver sides was conducted in order to test a novel superior cluneal nerve block technique. Second, this nerve block technique was applied in a randomized trial of 20 healthy volunteers. Initially, the LFC, the subcostal and the iliohypogastric nerves were blocked bilaterally. A transversalis fascia plane (TFP) block technique was used to block the iliohypogastric nerve. Subsequently, randomized, blinded superior cluneal nerve blocks were conducted with active block on one side and placebo block contralaterally.Results Successful anesthesia after the superior cluneal nerve block was achieved in 18 of 20 active sides (90%). The area of anesthesia after all successful superior cluneal nerve blocks was adjacent and posterior to the area anesthetized by the combined TFP and subcostal nerve blocks. The addition of the superior cluneal nerve block significantly increased the anesthetic coverage of the various types of hip surgery incisions.Conclusion The novel ultrasound-guided nerve block technique reliably anesthetizes the superior cluneal nerves. It anesthetizes the skin posterior to the area innervated by the iliohypogastric and subcostal nerves. It improves the anesthetic coverage of incisions used for hip surgery. Among potential indications, this new nerve block may improve postoperative analgesia after hip surgery and may be useful as a diagnostic block for various chronic pain conditions. Clinical trials are mandated.

KW - GOVERNING BODY DONATION

KW - HIP-FRACTURE PATIENTS

KW - ANATOMY

KW - EUROPE

KW - LEGAL

U2 - 10.1136/rapm-2018-100174

DO - 10.1136/rapm-2018-100174

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 31061111

VL - 44

SP - 772

EP - 780

JO - Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine

JF - Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine

SN - 1098-7339

IS - 8

ER -