title: Effects of perineural tramadol on sensory and motor conduction of ulnar nerve.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to study the effects of perineural tramadol on both sensory and motor conduction of ulnar nerve by electroneurography (ENG).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Electrophysiology Laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight healthy volunteers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Either 3-mL of saline or 50 mg of tramadol in 3-mL saline was initially administered perineurally to ulnar nerve of nondominant extremity. After two weeks, volunteers who received tramadol were given saline, whereas the ones who received saline were given tramadol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline sensory and motor responses of ulnar nerve were recorded by ENG prior to injection of study solutions. Perineural injections were realized by means of a teflon-coated needle and a nerve stimulator. Following injections, sensory and motor responses were monitored every five minutes in the first hour and then every 10 minutes until the sensory and motor amplitudes reached at least 80 percent of the baseline value.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Perineural tramadol administration showed a significant decrease from baseline measurement in the sensory response amplitude with respect to saline administration (65.9 percent vs 12. 7 percent, p < 0.05). Decrease in the motor response amplitudes from baseline versus saline was insignificant (32.9 percent vs 15.2 percent). Sensory block was observed in all of the subjects after tramadol injection when compared with saline administration and lasted 25 minutes (p < 0.05). The duration of motor block lasted 12.5 minutes, and motor block developed in four out of eight subjects when compared with saline administration (p < 0.05). Time to reach maximum sensory and motor block were 15 and 10 minutes, respectively, after tramadol injection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tramadol has a brief local anesthetic-like action when administered to ulnar nerve perineurally.
authors.affiliation: American Hospital Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ertan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oztürk
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zinnuroğlu
authors.forename: Ozer Ali
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Sezer
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gökyar
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beyazova
authors.forename: Kadir
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaya
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects*; D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014147:Tramadol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D014147:Tramadol