2021 AMI Online Salon
Digital nerve block
Project Details
- Entrant Name: Shawna Snyder
- Client: UWorld
- Copyright: UWorld, 2021
- Medium/software used: ZBrush, Photoshop, Illustrator
- Final presentation format: USMLE Step 2 Test Question – Online
- Primary Audience: 3-4th year medical students
Project Description
A digital nerve block is one of the most common anesthetic techniques in the emergency department. This illustration depicts the key aspects of the procedure for medical student education. Using a finger laceration as an example, the hand is placed palm side down and the syringe inserted 1 cm distal to the metacarpophalangeal joint. Anesthetic is injected around the dorsal digital nerve, which provides sensory information to the dorsal aspect of the index finger (and is supplied by the superficial branch of the radial nerve). The cross section shows the anesthetic deposition pattern of the injection. Due to the proximity of blood vessels to the nerve, epinephrine is contraindicated as it leads to increased vascular resistance and can lead to vascular insufficiency and necrosis.
