Ultrasound-guided supracondylar radial nerve block in pain management of distal radius fractures

Radius fracture causes severe pain and requires extensive pain management. We aimed to present the efficacy of ultrasound (US)-guided supracondylar radial nerve block (SCRNB) in pain relief of two distal radius fracture cases. Two patients with distal radius fracture presented to emergency department. Both patients received US-guided SCRNB to provide analgesia during and after the closed reduction procedure. Reduction of displaced distal radial fractures is extremely painful and requires adequate analgesia. US-guided SCRNB is easy to administer, and comfortable with low complication risk. In previous studies, the preferred local anesthetic was lidocaine. Using bupivacaine in addition to lidocaine can provide long term analgesia. US-guided SCRNB is a safe and simple technique to perform with a minimal risk of complication and may replace commonly used sedo-analgesia in distal radius fracture at emergency department.

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