Brachial Plexus Block, a Comparison of Nerve Locator versus Paresthesia Technique

Abstract

Brachial plexus block using local anaesthetics is used widely for upper limb surgery. Proper identification of the nerve bundle is very important to inject local anaesthetic. Methods like paresthesia technique, nerve locator technique and ultrasound is used to identify the nerve bundle. The oldest is the parestheia technique and it causes few complications like inadequate block, failed block, inadvertent puncture of the blood vessels and temporary damage of the nerve. Nerve locator is a simple instrument available to locate the nerve bundle. The present study is aimed at comparing the brachial plexus block using paresthesia technique versus nerve locator technique.