Podcast 571: Digital Blocks

Contributor: Jared Scott, MD

Educational Pearls:

Traditional digital block involves dorsal approach on either side of the digit, injecting local anesthetic along each side to numb all four nerves of the digit Newer approach involves a single injection along the palmar surface at MCP joint Recent study further compared a proximal vs distal single palmar (volar) injection with sites at the MCP and PIP joints Injection sites achieved similar anesthesia between groups but PIP injection site had faster time of onset - 2.5 minutes compared to 3.8 minutes

References

Choi S, Cho YS, Kang B, Kim GW, Han S. The difference of subcutaneous digital nerve block method efficacy according to injection location. Am J Emerg Med. 2020;38(1):95‐98. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2019.04.031

Summarized by Jackson Roos, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD