Apex- Upper extremity Blocks Flashcards
Order components of the brachial plexus from most medial to most lateral:
Divisions, Cords, Trunks, Branches
*Robert Taylor Drinks Cold Beer
-Roots, Trunks, Divisions, Cords, Branches
The brachial plexus provides (sensory/motor) innervation to where
sensory and motor innervation to pretty much the whole shoulder and upper extremity
Brachial pexus arises from (dorsal/ventral) rami of which nerve rooots
ventral rami of C5-T1
Label
Top Left:
- Sternocleiodmastoid muscle: Sternal head, Clavicular head
- Omohyoid muscle
- Pectoralis Major muscle (Minor muscle is lateral to that)
Top Right:
- Middle scalene muscle
- Interscalene groove
- Anterior scalene muscle
- Brachial plexus
- Clavical
- Subclavian arteries and veins
- Cupola of the lung
- 1st rib
The brachial plexus nerve roots pass between what 2 muscles?
Anterior and middle scalene muscles
The brachial plexus nerve roots converge into trunks where?
just beyond the lateral border of the scalene muscles
which component of the brachial plexus diverges underneath the clavical and over the 1st rib?
The anterior and posterior divisions
The (anterior/posterior) divisions of the brachial plexus’ innervate the (anterior/posterior/flexor/extensor) parts of the arm.
Anterior divisions
- Anterior/FLEXOR
- Flex your anterior biceps
Posterior Divisions
- Posterior/EXTENSOR parts of the arm
- “extend to reach behind to someones posterior”
Brachial plexus divisions converge into cords when the brachial plexus goes under which muscle?
the pectoralis minor muscle
Brachial pelxus cords are named in relation to what?
the axillary artery
Where do cords diverge into branches?
in the axilla
(hence why you don’t put an ax roll in the axilla)
Where two terminal branches arise from C5-T1
Radial and Median
(Real mean, they take up all the roots)
Which roots does the axillary nerve arise from?
C5-C6
Which roots does the musculocutaneous nerve arise from?
C5-C7 (muscles are big and arise from 3 roots instead of 2)
Which terminal brachial plexus branch arises from C8-T1
Ulnar nerve
Label
C5 Root
Superior Trunk > Middle Trunk > Inferior Trunk
Lateral Cord > Posterior Cord > Medial Cord
Musculocutaneous Nerve > Axillary > Median > Radial > Ulnar
Which cords gives rise to:
Musculocutaneous Nerve:
Axillary Nerve:
Median Nerve:
Radial Nerve:
Ulnar Nerve:
Musculocutaneous Nerve: Lateral Cord
Axillary Nerve: Posterior Cord
Median Nerve: Lateral and Medial Cord
Radial Nerve: Posterior Cord
Ulnar Nerve: Medial Cord
Match the upper extremity nerve branches with the spinal cord roots:
- Intercostobrachial Nerve
- Supraclavicular Nerve
- Dorsal Scapular Nerve
- T2, C3-C4, C5
- Intercostobrachial Nerve: T2
- Supraclavicular Nerve: C3-C4
- Dorsal Scapular Nerve: C5
Phrenic nerve receives contribution from which nerve root?
C5
(3-4-5 keep the diaphram alive)
What does the suprascapular nerve arise from?
The cervical plexus
T/F- the phrenic nerve is a component of the brachial plexus
False
-but it does receive contribution from C5, so some approaches to the brachial plexus (interscalene) cause hemidiaphramatic paralysis
Who shouldn’t get a interscalene block and why?
Pt’s with poor pulmonary resereve - (COPD)
which nerve
phrenic (C3-C5)
T/F- the Supraclavicular nerve arises from the brachial plexus
False- Cervical plexus (C3-C4)
Where does the intercostobrachial nerve arise from?
The 2nd intercostal nerve (T2)
- What nerve provides innervation here
- What anatomical area is this
- What kind of block is required to block this nerve
- What kind of procedure would this be used for
- Intercostobrachial nerve (T2)
- Medial aspect of the upper arm
- Field block
- To tolerate an upper extremity tourniquet in an awake patient
label
- Dorsal scapular nerve > to phrenic nerve > Long thoracic nerve
- Suprascapular nerve > Subclavious nerve
Lateral pectoral nerve > Medial pectoral nerve
Upper, middle, and lower subscapbular nerves
Medial brachial cutaneous nerve , Medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve
Match:
Radial, Ulnar, Median nerves
A- Radial
B- Median
C- Ulnar
Which nerve innervates the palmar side of the thumb (root)
Radial (C6)
Which nerve inneravtes the tip of the index finger (root)
Median (C7)
Which nerve innervates the tip of the pinky finger (root)
Ulnar (C8)
Dermatome vs myotome vs osteotome
dermatome- area of skin innervated by a dorsal/sensory spinal nerve root
myotome - muscles innervated by the ventral/motor spinal nerve roots
osteotome - bones and joints innervated by the dorsal/sensory spinal nerve roots
Mneumonic for clinical assessment of a brachial plexus block
-
Push’eR:
* Elbow extension agaisnt resistance (tricep contraction) > Radial nerve
2. Pull’eM:
- Elbow flexion agaisnt resistance (bicept contraction) > Musculocutaenous nerve
3. Pinch Me:
- Pinch index finger (2nd digit) > Median nerve
4. Pinch U:
- Pinch pinky finger (5th ditchit) > Ulnar nerve
What nerve provides sensory innervation to the lateral upper arm at the shoulder
Axillary nerve
What nerve(s) provide sensory innervation to the medial upper arm to the elbow?
Intercostobrachial and medial brachial cutaneous
what nerve(s) provide sensory innervation to the anterior upper arm & anterior and medial forearm to the wrist
medial antebrachial cutaenous
What nerve provides sensory innervation to the lateral forearm to the wrist
Musculocutaneous
What nerve provides sensory innervation to the lateral upper arm
Radial
what nerve provides sensory innervation to the posterior arm bewlow the shoulder
Radial
what nerve provides sensory innervation to the posterior forearm
Radial nerve
What nerve provides sensory innervation to the dorsum of the hand lateral to the axial line of the 4th digit
The radial nerve
What nerve provides sensory innervation to the radial side of the thumb?
The radial nerve
What nerve provides sensory innervation to the palmer side of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd digits (palmer side and tips on dordal side)
Median nerve
What nerve provides sensory innervation to the radial side of the 4th digit (palmer side and tip on dorsal side)
Median nerve
What nerve supplies sensory innervation to the hypothenar eminence (whatever the fuck that is)
ulnar nerve
what nerve provides sensory innervation of the ulnar side of the 4th digit and the entire 5th digit
ulnar nerve
label these bad boys
- Yellow = supraclavicular
- Green = Axillary
- Blue = suprascapular
- Orange = Intercostobrachial and medial brachial cutaneous
- Purple = Radial
- Magenta = medial antebracheal cutaneous
- light blue = musculocutaneous
- orange = median
- pink = ulnar
What nerve is responsible for shoulder ABduction
(deltoid contraction)
Axillary nerve
(C5-C6)
T/F: Intercostobrachial and medial brachial and medial antebrachial cutaneous nerves serve no motor function
True
What nerve is responsible for elbow flexion (_____contraction)
Bicep contraction
-Musculocutaneous
What nerve is responsible for forwarm supination (palms face upwards) vs forearm pronation (palms face downwards)
MusculocutaenouS - Supination
Median= pronation
What nerve is responsible for elbow extension (______contraction)
Tricep comtraction
Radial nerve
What nerve is responsible for wrist extension?
vs wrsist flexion?
Wrist extension = Radial
Wrist flexion = Ulnar
What nerve is responsible for finger extension vs finger flexion?
finger extension = radial (radial = extension)
finger flexion
- Median = first 3½ digits
- Ulnar = 4th and 5th digits
What nerve is responsibe for thumb abduction vs thumb ADDuction
ABduction = Radial (radial = extension)
ADDuction = Ulnar (adductor pollicis contraction)
What nerve is responsible for thumb opposition (bring thumb to contact a finger)
vs 5th digit opposition (bring pinky to contact the thumb)
thumb opposition = median nerve
pinky opposition = ulnar nerve
The subclavian nerve arises from the __________, the supraclavicular nerve arises from the _________
why is this clinically relevant
bc it explains why an interscalene block may not provide complete anesthesia for a distal clavical fracture
label these bad boys
Green = axillary
Blue = suprascapular
Light Purple = subscapular
Blue = Musculocutaneous
Dark purple = Radial
Orange = Median
Pink = Ulnar
label these bad boys
orange = subclavius
blue = suprascapular
green = axillary
light purple = subscapular
light blue = musculocutaneous
dark purple = rdial
light pink = ulnar
orange = median
The interscalene block targets what nerve roots of the brachial plexus?
C5-C7
Why can people still move their forearm/hand after a interscalene block?
Bc interscalene block only blocks C5-C7 and thw forearm and hand are innervated by C8-T1
An interscalene block does NOT anesthetize the skin of the ________________; this region is innervated by the intercostobrachial nerve which arises from _____ (not the brachial plexus)
medial proximal upper arm - T2
The objective of an interscalene block is to inject local anesthetic around the C__ - C ___ roots of the brachial plexus between which muscles?
C5-C7
between the anterior and middle scalene muscles
What block is reserved for procedures involving the shoulder and proximal upper arm?
Interscalene block
Transducer position for ultrasound guided brachial plexus block?
Transferse on the neck ~ 3-4 cm above the clavicle
3 Landmarks for brachial plexus nerve stimulation technique
- Cricoid cartilage
- Clavical
- Lateral border of the clavivular head of the sternocleiodmastoid muscle
With an interscalene block, the inferior trunk (C8-T1) is spared _____% of the time, making it not ideal for procedures below the elbow
30%
What presents as a series of hypoechoic circles “bunch of grapes”
the trunks/divisions of the brachial plexus
What is the traffic light sign
The roots of the brachial plexus between the anterior and middle scalene muscles (C5-C7)
T/F- when doing an interscalene block, the needle should be placed between the nerve roots
true- to reduce the risk of nerve injury
What artery/vein is this
Vertebral
(Brachial plexus block)
What type of needle is placed for an interscalene block
22g, 5cm, B-type bevel needle
nerve stimulator current of 1mA
How much volume of LA to inject for interscalene block
7-15mls
For an interscalene block, how do you identify the 6th cervical vertbra?
by drawing a line laterally from the cricoid cartilage towards the clavicular head of the SCM
(often you can feel the transverse process of C6 - Chassaignac’s tubercle - appling pressure here will cause discomfort to the patient
What is Chassaignac’s tubercle
the transverse process of C6
- can be felt when trying to do an interscalene block
- pressure here will cause discomfort to the patient