Use Of Continuous Axillary Brachial Plexus Block Facilitates Assessment Of Motor Functions During Tendon Repair

Abstract

Objective: To report the successful use of continuous axillary brachial plexus block in the assessment of muscle functions during tendon repair.
Methods: A prospective observational study carried out at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife between November 2006 and December 2007. The study included patients scheduled for repair of upper limb tendon secondary to trauma. American Society of Anaesthesiologist (ASA) health status 1 and 2 were included. 24 healthy patients who presented with laceration of upper limb tendon had continuous axillary block for the repair of the tendon using a catheter infusion technique. 0.5% Ropivacaine hydrochloride was the local anaesthestic solution.
Monitoring of motor and sensory functions was done both intraoperatively and postoperatively.
Results:The awake patients were able to carry out basic motor functions which facilitated assessment of tendon repair in all the 24 patients. Anaesthesia was adequate in 21 (87.5%) of the patients. 3 patients requested for supplementary analgesia. Only one patient developed features suggestive of local anaesthetic
toxicity.
Conclusion: Insertion of axillary catheters for the purpose of continuous brachial plexus block can facilitate assessment of functions following tendon repair when appropriate local anaesthestic agents with motor sparing effects are selected.


Keywords: Axillary block, assessment, motor functions,

Nigeria Journal of Orthopaedics and Trauma Vol. 7 (2) 2008: pp. 60-62