A Retrospective Study on Ultrasound-Guided Combined Interscalene – Superficial Cervical Plexus Block for Surgical Anesthesia of Clavicle Fractures in a Tertiary Orthopedic Hospital

ABSTRACT

Clavicle surgery is   usually performed under general anesthesia while regional anesthesia has not been commonly performed in current anesthesia practice. This study   reviewed the charts of 47 patients who underwent clavicular fracture repair surgery under ultrasound-guided combined interscalene – superficial   cervical plexus block. Results showed that ultrasound- guided   interscalene brachial plexus block combined   with superficial cervical plexus block is a safe and effective surgical anesthesia in clavicle fracture across various demographic groups with risk factors and comorbidities.   Vital signs of patients were stable preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively. Block procedural time   took an average of 20 minutes.   All patients completed their operation with a mean duration of 143.19 (SD±64.44) minutes. Out of 47 patients 2 (4.26%) required conversion to GA-mask and 3 (6.38%) were converted to GETA due to inadequate block. The mean duration of sensory block was 19 hours   and 17.42 hours for motor function. 

Postoperatively,   all patients received pain medications which include paracetamol, ketorolac, and tramadol. No patient requested a rescue dose for   severe pain in the 1st 24 hours. Ultrasound-guided combined interscalene – superficial cervical plexus block may   be considered as safe and effective alternative to general anesthesia for surgeries of   the clavicle.