Brief reports: ultrasound-guided obturator nerve block: a proximal interfascial technique.
BACKGROUND
In this report, I describe and evaluate a proximal ultrasound (US)-guided obturator nerve block technique using an interfascial local anesthetic (LA) injection deep to the pectineus muscle.


METHODS
The pectineus muscle was identified and followed, while the US probe was tilted cranially until the superior pubic ramus was visualized. In this plane, LA was injected interfascially between the pectineus and obturator externus.


RESULTS
The median time required to identify the injection site was 4 seconds (95% confidence interval, 3-5 seconds). The median motor block onset was 4 minutes (95% confidence interval, 3-5 minutes). Both obturator nerve branches were blocked successfully in all patients (100%).


CONCLUSIONS
The US-guided obturator nerve block using interfascial LA injection inferior to the superior pubic ramus, between the pectineus and obturator externus muscles, was shown to be a simple and successful technique.
Department of Anesthesiology, Abu Dhabi Knee and Sports Medicine Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. ahmadtaha@sportsmedicine.ae
Ahmad Muhammad
AM
Taha
D000328:Adult; D000577:Amides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019162:Anesthetics, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000294:innervation*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D009776:Obturator Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000077212:Ropivacaine; D013997:Time Factors; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D014479:United Arab Emirates
D000577:Amides; D019162:Anesthetics, Combined; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000077212:Ropivacaine; D008012:Lidocaine