Purpose: This paper presents a technique of ultrasound-guided localisation and block of the musculocutaneous nerve through the anterior wall of the axilla.
Materials and methods: Twenty patients (7 males and 13 females; mean age, 35 years) had axillary nerve block for upper extremity trauma. With the arm adducted, the ultrasound probe was positioned on the anterior axillary wall; the axillary artery, coracobrachialis and pectoralis major muscles and lateral cord of brachial plexus were visualised in cross section. With continuous imaging of the axillary artery in cross section, the ultrasound probe was slowly moved towards the biceps muscle until the musculocutaneous nerve appeared crossing the coracobrachialis muscle. After ultrasound localisation of the musculocutaneous nerve, the arm was abducted and externally rotated, and the nerve was identified with nerve stimulation and blocked. The quality of sensory and motor nerve block, as well as of ultrasound imaging were evaluated.
Results: Ultrasound-guided block of the musculocutaneous nerve was excellent and complete in 18 of the 20 patients. In two patients, the musculocutaneous nerve was fused with the median nerve and the nerve block was repeated successfully with the same technique. The quality of ultrasound imaging was excellent in all patients. No patient experienced pain or tourniquet discomfort during surgery, or any other nerve block-related complication.
Conclusion: The anterior axillary ultrasound view provides for complete nerve block and imaging of the entire course of the musculocutaneous nerve and its relations with adjacent structures with excellent quality.