Plastic and reconstructive surgery
-
Plast. Reconstr. Surg. · Oct 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyRandomized comparison of the single-injection volar subcutaneous block and the two-injection dorsal block for digital anesthesia.
Two commonly used methods of digital nerve block with local anesthetic are the two-injection dorsal technique and the single-injection volar subcutaneous technique. The authors compared these two digital block techniques with respect to local anesthetic injection pain and recipient preference of anesthetic technique. ⋯ Although the difference in pain scores between the two techniques was not statistically significant, volunteers who received both blocks would prefer the volar single-injection subcutaneous block if given a choice. Therefore, the single-injection volar subcutaneous block is recommended as the technique of choice for anesthesia of the digit, except in patients for whom anesthesia over the dorsum of the proximal phalanx is required. These patients may prefer a supplementary dorsal nerve block or a traditional two-injection block.