What is an infraclavicular block?

The infraclavicular block is a regional anesthetic technique developed to avoid the side effects and complications of supraclavicular blocks, particularly pneumothorax. It can be used for postoperative pain control for upper extremity surgeries such as the elbow, forearm, or hand.

What is infraclavicular brachial plexus?

The infraclavicular brachial plexus block provides a block of the arm below the shoulder. Unlike the axillary approach, it can be performed without abduction of the arm, making it useful for patients with limited shoulder mobility.

How does a brachial plexus block work?

For some surgeries on the shoulder, arm, or hand, a doctor may do a brachial plexus nerve block. This is an injection (shot) of numbing medicine that helps keep your pain level lower during and after surgery. This nerve block is sometimes used with medicine that makes you sleep during surgery.

Where is the infraclavicular area?

The Infraclavicular fossa is an indentation, or fossa, immediately below the clavicle, above the third rib and between the deltoid muscle laterally and medioclavicular line medially.

Where is supraclavicular block located?

The main landmarks for this block are the lateral insertion of the SCM muscle in the clavicle, the clavicle itself, and the patient’s midline. These three landmarks are easily identifiable in the majority of patients.

What nerves are blocked in supraclavicular block?

Supraclavicular brachial plexus nerve block: needle path and two separate injections required for nerve block of the brachial plexus. Two needle positions (1 and 2) are used to inject local anesthetic within the connective tissue sheath (arrows) containing the brachial plexus (BP).

How does a Bier block work?

A Bier block essentially consists of injecting local anesthetic solutions into the venous system of an upper or lower extremity that has been exsanguinated by compression or gravity and that has been isolated by means of a tourniquet from the central circulation.