Dual Endpoint Nerve Stimulation Versus Ultrasound in Infraclavicular Block for Hand Surgery

A Randomized Controlled Study Comparing Dual Endpoint Nerve Stimulation With Ultrasound-guided Infraclavicular Block for Hand Surgery.

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00956683

Enrollment

106

Registered

2009-08-11

Start date

2006-01-31

Completion date

2008-12-31

Last updated

2009-08-11

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Hand Surgery

Keywords

infraclavicular nerve block ultrasound dual endpoint stimulation

Brief summary

Current best practice for performance of infraclavicular block dictates the use of a dual-endpoint nerve stimulation technique that still only results in a 79% success rate. Use of an ultrasound-guided technique has the potential to significantly improve success. A randomized, controlled study to evaluate this area remains to be performed and is required to demonstrate to anesthesiologists that an ultrasound-guided approach should supersede nerve stimulation as the technique of choice for infraclavicular block.

Interventions

PROCEDUREUltrasound Guided Infraclavicular Nerve Block

Use of Ultrasound to help guide needle placement and local anesthetic injection during infraclavicular nerve block.

PROCEDUREDual-Endpoint nerve stimulation

Use of dual-endpoint nerve stimulation to guide needle placement and local anesthetic injection during infraclavicular nerve block.

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 80 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* Patients undergoing elective upper limb surgery at or below the elbow. * Patients aged \>18 and \<80 years * ASA I-III * BMI\<35

Exclusion criteria

* Inability to read, write or speak English. (This is necessary because subjects will have to follow detailed instructions to allow testing of motor and sensory function. It is not feasible to have an interpreter present in the block room during performance of these procedures) * Contraindication to brachial plexus block * Existing neurological deficit in the area to be blocked * Known loco-regional malignancy or infection * Coagulopathy * Allergy to local anesthetic agents. * Chest or shoulder deformities * Severe respiratory disease * Healed but dislocated clavicle fracture

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
To compare ultrasound-guided infraclavicular block with conventional dual-endpoint nerve stimulator guided infraclavicular block with regards to block success, ease of nerve localization, speed of onset, duration of block and complications.	—

Countries

Canada

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026