Paravertebral block for forelimb anesthesia in the dog--an anatomic study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the anatomic landmarks for performing paravertebral forelimb block in the dog.


METHODS
Technique description.


METHODS
Nine canine cadavers.


METHODS
Each intervertebral foramen between the C5 and T2 vertebrae was targeted. With the dog in lateral recumbency, a 20 SWG 3'' spinal needle was placed at a 45 degree angle from a vertical transverse plane (with the dog standing this plane would be perpendicular to the ground) 2-3 cm lateral to the median plane for the three cranial intervertebral foramina and at a 90 degree angle with the same transverse plane 2-3 cm lateral to the median plane for the T1-T2 intervertebral foramina.


RESULTS
Three out of nine (33%) of the cadavers had successful staining of all four desired nerves and the remaining six (66%) cadavers had successful staining of three of the four nerves. The C6-C7 spinal nerve was successfully stained in all nine cadavers. The other three nerves were each successfully stained in seven out of nine (78%) cadavers.


CONCLUSIONS
The landmarks allow reliable placement of a solution at the nerves comprising the brachial plexus, allowing anesthesia of the entire forelimb in the dog.
Hofmeister
Erik H
EH
Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. erikh@vet.uga.edu
Kent
Marc
M
Read
Matt R
MR
D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002102:Cadaver; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D004285:Dogs / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D005552:Forelimb / Q000294:innervation*; D007278:Injections, Spinal / Q000662:veterinary; D008751:Methylene Blue; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000662:veterinary*; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008751:Methylene Blue