Surface Landmarks to Provide a Safe Ulnar Nerve Block in the Wrist

Knowledge of distal wrist anatomy is required to execute a safe ulnar nerve block. We performed a cadaveric anatomical study as well as a literature review of cadaveric studies describing various techniques for ulnar nerve blockade at the wrist. The data suggest that an ulnar approach provides the safest method.

Anesthesia modalities in hand surgery range from local blockade to general anesthesia. Recently, wide awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) hand surgery has gained popularity, utilizing local anesthetics combined with epinephrine for hemostasis.^1-4 This method provides safe and effective anesthesia while decreasing costs and operating room time.^5-7 However, knowledge of local anatomy to ensure precision of injection is required to avoid iatrogenic injury.⁸

When anesthetizing the ulnar nerve (UN) as part of a wrist block, injury and/or intra-arterial injection of the ulnar artery (UA) can occur due to their proximity in the distal forearm.⁹ The UN commonly courses radial to the UA on the surface of the flexor digitorum profundus and deep to the flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) in the proximal two-thirds of the forearm. As the UN approaches the distal third, it crosses ulnar to the UA, giving off a dorsal cutaneous branch 3 to 5 cm proximal to the ulnar head and continues between the pisiform and the hook of hamate.¹⁰

Use of surface landmarks to predict nerve locations for injection in the upper limb had been described to avoid iatrogenic injury, with multiple anatomic and cadaveric studies focusing on the median nerve.^8,11 However, limited cadaveric studies exist describing injection for UN blockade at the wrist, with no consensus on technique.^12-14 We sought to review this literature as well as compare the findings with our data. Using the relationship of the UN to the UA, pisiform, and FCU, we aim to describe a safe location for injection of local anesthetic during UN blockade.

Fresh-frozen cadaveric upper extremities were obtained from the University of Louisville Robert Acland Fresh Tissue Lab. The UN was revealed by dissection, beginning at the cubital tunnel and progressing distally. The nerve was traced until it entered Guyon's canal. The relationships between the FCU, UN, and UA were recorded 1 cm proximal to the proximal aspect of the pisiform, corresponding to the wrist crease.

Upon literature review, 3 cadaveric studies for UN blockade were identified. In 2004, Lizamore et al¹² inserted 2 needles into 57 cadaveric wrists, each with a volar approach and an ulnar approach. Upon dissection, the presence of UA puncture, relationship of the UN to the UA, and depth of needle (ie, distance of the medial FCU to the medial UN, via an ulnar approach) were measured.¹² Then, in 2014, Varshney et al¹³ inserted a 1.5 inch 25 gauge needle proximal to the wrist crease in 40 cadavers, utilizing the FCU as a landmark, via a volar, transtendinous volar (TTV), or ulnar technique. They assessed the distance from the needle tip to the UN and UA and the number of arterial punctures.¹³ In addition, in 2014, Prithishkumar et al¹⁴ inserted two 18 gauge needles at a total depth of 7 mm, just proximal to the wrist crease in 12 cadavers, one via a volar approach and second via an ulnar approach. The following measurements were obtained: medial border of the FCU to the UA, medial border of the FCU to the UN, lateral border of the FCU to the UA, UN to UA, width of the FCU tendon, and tip of the needle to the UA via a volar approach and an ulnar approach.¹⁴

A thorough understanding of the relationships between the UN and surface landmarks at the wrist is important in order to safely perform an UN block. The use of ultrasound has been reported to assist in performing UN injections¹⁵; however, its effectiveness is dependent on ultrasound availability and user ability and should not replace a surgeon's knowledge of the anatomy. This study focuses on the location of the UN in relation to the UA, pisiform, and FCU in the distal forearm in order to guide performance of an ulnar wrist block.

Prior to discussion of a proper technique, it is important to note that although local nerve blocks are relatively safe when compared with general anesthesia, there are inherent associated risks. Damage to the nerve or adjacent artery during injection of local anesthetics can be particularly debilitating, and introduction of the local anesthetic into the bloodstream can have devastating effects.¹⁶ Many factors influence the risk and degree of local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST), including comorbidities, medication interactions, the type, amount, location, and route of delivery of the anesthetic, as well as the time until detected. Because of the increasing use and interest in local anesthesia, the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA) has continually published and updated a checklist for identifying and managing LAST, with the most recent being published in 2018.^17,18

Classically, the description of LAST includes minor central nervous system symptoms that continually progress, with cardiac toxicity following. This progression, however, may be accelerated or bypassed during intravascular injection. Once recognizing this, it is vital to initiate treatment immediately. Of note, the ASRA stresses that although this may result in findings that trigger the standard ACLS protocols, the cause is in fact different and requires a modified approach. Additional to the recommended treatment algorithm, it is recommended to have a LAST Rescue Kit available and the ASRA LAST Checklist (Fig 3).^17,18

Another well-known risk during local anesthetic injection is peripheral nerve injury.¹⁹ Factors affecting the extent of nerve injury include type and size of the needle, angle of insertion, pressure of injection, and dose of anesthetic injected. Local anesthetics have a direct toxic effect on nerves when injected in the intrafascicular plane. In a study by Farber et al,²⁰ nerves injected with bupivacaine, lidocaine, or ropivacaine underwent neural fibrosis and loss of myelinated fibers, whereas injection of saline alone caused no severe injury. The effects of nerve injury during local anesthetic injection include loss of sensation or motor function, pain, and paresthesia.^20,21 Using a small needle, and having the patient awake during injection, has been proposed as a method to avoid nerve injury. This allows for observation of the patient's reaction to the introduction of the needle where pain or paresthesia may indicate the needle is coming into direct contact with the nerve.⁸

To prevent such complications, it is essential to understand the anatomic relationships between the UA, UN, and FCU. Focusing on the relationship between the UA and the UN, Prithishkumar et al¹⁴ and Varshney et al¹³ demonstrated that the UA was radial to the nerve in all cadaveric specimens, 12 and 40, respectively,^13,14 which was consistent with our findings in 16 cadaveric specimens. Lizamore et al¹² demonstrated similar findings in 56 of 57 specimens, with one being posterior to the nerve.¹² Although there was slight variation in the neurovascular relationship, the artery was never found to be on the ulnar side of the nerve.^12-14 Regarding the relationship between the FCU and the UA, Prithishkumar et al¹⁴ described 3 types, with 33% of UAs being under the FCU (type 1), 50% just radial to the FCU (type II), and 16.7% further radial from the FCU (type III).¹⁴ While not distinguishing between types, Varshney et al¹³ demonstrated that for all the specimens on a volar approach, the mean distance from the needle tip was closer to the UN than to the UA, suggesting the UA was primarily in a type II or III position.¹³ Lizamore et al¹² also specified a relationship between the UA and the FCU, but their findings also seemed to describe a type II or III position.¹² We identified the UA to be located in all 3 types as described by Prithishkumar et al.¹⁴ Finally, comparing the relationship between the FCU and the UN at the wrist, there was also variance in findings. Varshney et al¹³ described the nerve to be located radial to the FCU, which was similar the findings of Lizamore et al.¹² In contrast, Prithiskumar et al¹⁴ found the UN to be deep to the FCU tendon,¹⁴ similar to our findings, with one nerve (6.2%) located on the deep ulnar side of the FCU tendon.

In defining the techniques, the ulnar and volar approaches are the most classically used methods for UN blockade at the wrist. In the ulnar approach, the needle is inserted parallel to the proximal wrist crease, just dorsal to the FCU and perpendicular to the long axis of the arm. In the volar approach, the needle is inserted perpendicular to the long axis of the arm at the proximal wrist crease along the radial border of the FCU. An alternative approach is the TTV approach, which involves inserting the needle perpendicular to the long axis of the arm at the proximal wrist crease through the midportion of the FCU tendon until loss of resistance indicates the needle has traversed the tendon. In all 3 methods, aspiration prior to injection is important in order to avoid intra-arterial injection.^12-14

Utilizing the volar approach, the rate of arterial puncture ranged from 35% to 50%, with 40% risk of UN injury as described by Varshney et al.¹³ In contrast, the ulnar approach was associated with a 0% risk of arterial puncture in all 3 studies and a 0% risk of nerve injury as long as the needle was inserted less than 10 mm. Given these findings, both Lizamore et al¹² and Prithishkumar et al¹⁴ recommended the ulnar approach. Regarding the TTV approach, Varshney et al¹³ found a 0% risk of arterial puncture and a 5% risk of neural injury, which they stated were not significantly different from the risk of neural injury via the ulnar approach (P = .49). Because of a shorter distance between the needle tip and the UN via the TTV approach versus the ulnar approach, which they suggest would result in a more effective block, Varshney et al¹³ recommended the TTV approach. Incorporating the findings from these 3 studies, as well as our anatomic findings, we favor the ulnar approach, as it is associated with both a 0% risk of UA puncture and an avoidable UN injury with limited needle insertion.^12-14 This may be most important in patients who are unable to provide feedback as compared with awake patients who can provide immediate response for adjustment of needle depth, which is a variable factor, further confirmed by the large range in wrist circumference seen within our study.

There are inherent limitations to this cadaveric study, which precludes the component of immediate feedback, palpable UA, and a limited number of specimens. In addition, only one study discussed the TTV approach,¹³ limiting our conclusions regarding this approach. However, by assessing the cadaveric studies focusing on an UN block at the wrist in combination with our study population, we are able to better define anatomic relationships and the impact of these relationships on the various techniques for UN block.

Although there are innate risks involved with using local anesthetics, these risks can be mitigated through a thorough understanding of the anatomical relationships, along with the utilization of surface landmarks and proper injection techniques, with our preference being the ulnar approach.

Authors: Swapnil D. Kachare, MD, MBA,^a Luke T. Meredith, MD,^b Milind D. Kachare, MD,^c Bradley J. Vivace, BS,^b Christina N. Kapsalis, MD,^d Claude Muresan, MD,^e Joshua H. Choo, MD,^a Morton L. Kasdan, MD,^a and Bradon J. Wilhelmi, MD, FACS^a

Affiliations: ^aDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery; ^bSchool of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY; ^cDepartment of Surgery, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ; ^dDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; and ^eChristine M. Kleinert Institute for Hand and Microsurgery, Louisville, KY

Correspondence: bjwilh01@exchange.louisville.edu; Helen.anderkin@louisville.edu

Disclosures: The authors disclose no financial or other conflicts of interest.