Results of ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block in orthopedic surgery
Keywords:
Brachial Block; Efficacy; Italy.Abstract
Introduction: peripheral nerve blocks are widely used in upper limb surgery, and ultrasound-guided supraclavicular block is a standard and preferred technique for anesthesia, providing control and safety that are not possible with other techniques.
Objectives: show the results of ultrasound-guided supraclavicular block in upper limb orthopedic surgery.
Methods: an observational, descriptive and retrospective study was conducted on 50 patients aged 14 to 82 years with upper limb orthopedic injuries, in which the supraclavicular approach to the brachial plexus was used as an anesthetic method, during the period from January to September 2025 at the Jazzolino Hospital in Italy.
Results: the main orthopedic injuries treated with ultrasound-guided supraclavicular block were forearm injuries, with 84 % of patients classified as ASA II. The average procedure time was 6,3 minutes. The complication, adverse effect and side effect rate was 0,05 per 1000 patients, with hematoma observed as a complication in only one patient. The technique demonstrated 98 % effectiveness and 99 % safety. The main advantages of ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial block were the short procedure time with guaranteed hemodynamic stability, the absence of adjuvant medications, and the prolonged postoperative analgesic effect.
Conclusions: the main results of ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block were its high efficacy and safety for orthopedic surgery.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Alexanders García Balmaseda, Roldan Valdés-González, Lisbet Leyva-Pérez, Roberto Álvarez-Fumero
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