Ultrasound Guided Topographic Mapping of Medial Antebrachial Cutaneous Nerve

The ethics committee will approved the study and informed consent is obtained. Patients with contraindications for regional anaesthesia will be excluded from the study. 150 patients will be included The arm is placed above and beside the head for scanning (abduction 90 degrees at the shoulder and 90 degrees flexion at the elbow with external rotation) Ultrasound is performed with a 12-18 MHz (Mega-Herz) linear probe (BK medical). The frequency is set to 18 MHz and the depth to 3 cm and adjusted to 1 cm below the brachial artery .

The terminal nerves of the brachial plexus (median, ulnar,radial an d musculocutaneous) are identified at the axillary fossa in a routine fashion described by Ranganath (see references).

After identifying the MACN at the axilla and 5 cm above the cubital fossa, the images at these two sites will be stored after digital marking of the MACN, the medial and ulnar nerve and the and radial nerve on the frozen ultrasound image. Its position relative to the venous structure and the artery at the axilla will be registered in the axilla at the lower border of the conjoint tendon of the teres major and the latissimus dorsi muscle.

After scanning the skin will be prepared with an aseptic solution and an axillary block will be performed with a 55 mm sonoplex 22 G short bevel ultrasound needle (Pajunk). With a partly in plane (ulnar, radial and MACN) and partly out of plane (median & musculocutaneous nerve) technique . Mepivacaine 1.5 % will be injected around each nerve in the following order: Ulnar nerve, MACN, radial nerve, median nerve and musculocutaneous nerve. The time at which the MACN is blocked will be noted. For each nerve 5 ml of local anaesthetic solution will be injected except for the MACN nerve where 3 ml will be used because of its smaller caliber.

Nerve stimulation will be used with a current of 0,2 mA (milli Amps). Following completion of the block the dermatome supplied by the MACN will be tested by loss of cold sensation. After 20 minutes the dermatomes and motor function of all nerves are tested by elbow flexion and extension, primarily thumb opposition and abduction of the index finger. Sensory block is tested at the fifth finger (ulnar nerve, the hand palm at the thumb (medial nerve)and the dorsum of the hand ( radial nerve), the lateral (musculocutaneous nerve) and medial skin ( MACN) of the forearm.

Skin will be prepared with an aseptic solution and an axillary block will be performed with deposition of local anesthetic around the MACN.

Data processing. The locations of the different nerves will be displayed in a pie chart with the axillary artery in the centre, as well as the relative position to the basilic vein. Statistics will only be descriptive .

Inclusion criteria

• all patients scheduled for lower arm/hand surgery

Exclusion criteria

• patient refusal