Anesth Pain Med.  2016 Apr;11(2):207-210. 10.17085/apm.2016.11.2.207.

Bilateral variant locations of the musculocutaneous nerve during ultrasound-guided bilateral axillary brachial plexus block: A case report

• Kim BG
• Lee CS
• Yang C
• Song K
• Na W
• Lim H

• KMID: 2358487
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.17085/apm.2016.11.2.207

Abstract

Ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block has several advantages over traditional techniques for nerve localization. One is a reduction of local anesthetic dose required for successful nerve block, which might allow bilateral brachial plexus block to be performed without risk of local anesthetic toxicity. Another advantage is the ability to detect anatomical variations in nerve and vascular anatomy. We report the case of a patient with unilateral anatomical variations of the musculocutaneous nerve found in ultrasound-guided bilateral axillary brachial plexus block.

Keyword

Anatomic variation; Brachial plexus block; Musculocutaneous nerve; Nerve block

MeSH Terms

Anatomic Variation
Brachial Plexus*
Humans
Musculocutaneous Nerve*
Nerve Block
Peripheral Nerves

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Ultrasound image of right axillary region. The large structure (arrow) appears to consist of the musculocutaneous nerve and median nerve. Abbreviations: V = vein; A = artery; U = ulnar nerve; and R = radial nerve.

• 

  Fig. 2 Ultrasound image of left axillary region. The musculocutanoeus nerve (arrow) was localized between the coracobrachialis and biceps muscles.

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