Abstract
Objective
To investigate the effects of obturator nerve blocks with ultrasound guided intraneural alcohol injection.
Method
Nine quadriplegic patients suffering hip adductor spasticity were included in this study. The obturator nerve was identified at just below inguinal ligament area on anteromedial surface of upper leg at supine position. An 23 G needle was inserted into anterior branch of obturator nerve under real time ultrasonography. The 50% alcohol solution was injected 3~5 ml at a time within the epineurium of the anterior branch of obturator nerve until the expanding nerve was visualized. We examed modified Ashworth scale (MAS) of hip adductor and passive range of movement of hip abduction at supine position at study entry, 1, 4, and 12 weeks after ultrasound guided intraneural injection.
Figures and Tables
![]() | Fig. 1(A) The anterior branch of obturator nerve (arrow head) located between three muscles, adductor longus, adductor brevis and pectineus. (B) When the needle (arrow) was located in the anterior branch of obturator nerve, and intra-neural alcohol injection was done. |
![]() | Fig. 2Ultrasound image of intraneural alcohol injection with the epineurium of anterior branch of obturator nerve. Fascicular bundles are being separated by 50% alcohol injection. F: Nerve fascicles, Arrows: Outer epineurium. |
![]() | Fig. 3Change of hip adductor spasticity after sono-guided intraneural alcohol injection at anterior branch of obturator nerve. *p<0.05 vs. pre-injection. MAS: Modified Ashworth scale. |
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