Nerve Block Gallery - Suprainguinal Nerve Block
Caption
An 89 year old male presented after a mechanical fall onto his right hip. X-rays demonstrated a comminuted right intertrochanteric fracture. An ultrasound-guided fascia iliaca block can be performed using the suprainguinal approach when placing the probe perpendicular to the inguinal ligament. The internal oblique (cephalad, blue) and the sartorius (caudad, red) muscles are encompassed by the fascia lata (green) superiorly and the fascia iliaca (yellow) inferiorly. These two come together to form a “bow tie” as shown above, anesthetic is deposited below the fascia iliaca. Studies have shown improved analgesia with the suprainguinal, as it is believed to have a higher likelihood of blocking the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve and the obturator nerve. Sanna Ho-Gotshall, DO, Ultrasound Fellow Casey Wilson, MD, Ultrasound Director, Emergency Medicine Program Director