Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe clinical experience with ultrasound-guided therapeutic procedures and associated pathologic conditions involving the peripheral nerves of the upper extremity over 5 years at a large academic institution.
Materials and methods: A retrospective database search of procedure codes was performed for all ultrasound-guided upper extremity peripheral nerve procedures between 2012 and 2017. Retrospective review of the electronic medical record for patient demographics, indications, interval follow-up pain relief, and complications was undertaken. Retrospective review of ultrasound and other correlative imaging findings was performed to assess for neural and perineural abnormalities.
Results: In total, 242 procedures performed on a cohort of 183 patients (53% women, 47% men; mean age, 53 years; range, 15-97 years) were reviewed. Nine patients underwent multifocal injections in a single encounter, and 39 underwent repeat injections of previously documented symptom generators. Perineural injections included ulnar (n = 109), median (n = 81), posterior interosseous-deep radial (n = 39), sensory branch of the radial (n = 7), anterior interosseous (n = 2), axillary (n = 2), suprascapular (n = 1), and digital (n = 1) nerves. Structural or dynamic abnormality seen either during the procedure or at preprocedural imaging included loss of normal morphologic features (n = 148), nerve subluxation (n = 8), ganglion cyst (n = 4), and neuroma (n = 7). Forty-four patients reported immediate pain relief after the procedure. Of the 89 patients with documented clinical follow-up, 52 reported a period of symptom relief (mean, 125 days), and six reported complete resolution of symptoms. Subsequent surgical procedures were performed on 32 patients, a combination of those who did (n = 12) and did not (n = 20) experience a period of symptom relief from the perineural injection. There were no complications with regard to the site or distribution of perineural injections. Three episodes of vasovagal reaction were reported.
Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous interventions for upper extremity neural abnormalities can be safely performed for a variety of indications. Real-time ultra-sound evaluation during the procedure allows assessment for neural and perineural abnormalities and tailoring of the procedure to potentially symptomatic structural abnormalities.
Keywords: injection; nerve; ultrasound; upper extremity.