What positions are used for performing digital nerve blocks?
Digital nerve block is a minor and easy to perform procedure that in done in cases of: • Different injuries (like fractures, lacerations, etc) • For different procedures (e.g. infection drainage and wound repair). The procedure involves injecting a regional anesthesia to anesthetize the area locally and specified nerves are blocked using this technique. There are different types of techniques that are used to perform digital nerve blocks and each is associated with different positioning. 1. Web-Space Block Hand is placed with the palmer side facing the surface and syringe is held at 90 degrees to the digit. Agent is injected in the web space distal to metacarpal-phalangeal joint. 2. Transthecal Block Hand is placed with the dorsal side facing the surface and agent is injected at 45 degrees distal to distal palmar crease. 3. Three-Sided Digital Block Used in cases of great toe. Foot is placed with planter side downward and agent is injected at 90 degree medially to the digit then injected from medial to lateral aspect and finally another injection is used on the lateral aspect with the injection position at 90 degree. 4. Four-Sided Ring Block Same positioning as three-sided digital block with the third injection being injected at the lateral side and advanced medially. 5. Wing Block Procedure Hand/Foot is placed with palmer/planter side facing downward and the needle is held at 45 degrees to the plane of sterile field.