Erik H Hofmeister1, Marc Kent, Matt R Read. 1. Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. erikh@vet.uga.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the anatomic landmarks for performing paravertebral forelimb block in the dog. STUDY DESIGN: Technique description. ANIMALS: Nine canine cadavers. METHODS: Each intervertebral foramen between the C5 and T2 vertebrae was targeted. With the dog in lateral recumbency, a 20 SWG 3'' spinal needle was placed at a 45 degree angle from a vertical transverse plane (with the dog standing this plane would be perpendicular to the ground) 2-3 cm lateral to the median plane for the three cranial intervertebral foramina and at a 90 degree angle with the same transverse plane 2-3 cm lateral to the median plane for the T1-T2 intervertebral foramina. RESULTS: Three out of nine (33%) of the cadavers had successful staining of all four desired nerves and the remaining six (66%) cadavers had successful staining of three of the four nerves. The C6-C7 spinal nerve was successfully stained in all nine cadavers. The other three nerves were each successfully stained in seven out of nine (78%) cadavers. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The landmarks allow reliable placement of a solution at the nerves comprising the brachial plexus, allowing anesthesia of the entire forelimb in the dog.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the anatomic landmarks for performing paravertebral forelimb block in the dog. STUDY DESIGN: Technique description. ANIMALS: Nine canine cadavers. METHODS: Each intervertebral foramen between the C5 and T2 vertebrae was targeted. With the dog in lateral recumbency, a 20 SWG 3'' spinal needle was placed at a 45 degree angle from a vertical transverse plane (with the dog standing this plane would be perpendicular to the ground) 2-3 cm lateral to the median plane for the three cranial intervertebral foramina and at a 90 degree angle with the same transverse plane 2-3 cm lateral to the median plane for the T1-T2 intervertebral foramina. RESULTS: Three out of nine (33%) of the cadavers had successful staining of all four desired nerves and the remaining six (66%) cadavers had successful staining of three of the four nerves. The C6-C7 spinal nerve was successfully stained in all nine cadavers. The other three nerves were each successfully stained in seven out of nine (78%) cadavers. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The landmarks allow reliable placement of a solution at the nerves comprising the brachial plexus, allowing anesthesia of the entire forelimb in the dog.