DBRCT on the Effect of Grip Strength in Brachial Plexus vs Distal Forearm Nerve Blocks

A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial Between Ultrasound-guided Brachial Plexus and Distal Peripheral Nerve Blocks for Hand Surgery

Status

Completed

Phases

Phase 4

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT01927289

Enrollment

Registered

2013-08-22

Start date

2013-03-31

Completion date

2013-08-31

Last updated

2013-08-22

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

Conditions

Postoperative Mobility

Keywords

Ultrasound, supraclavicular block, distal forearm block, Grip Strength, Satisfaction

Brief summary

This is a double-blind prospective randomized control trial. The primary hypothesis is that the preservation of motor function is superior in distal forearm blocks compared to supraclavicular block. The secondary outcomes include patient satisfaction, surgeon's satisfaction, rate of block success, onset and duration of block.

Interventions

PROCEDUREProximal Brachial Plexus vs Distal Forearm Block

Proximal Brachial plexus block: 15 mls saline injected in distal forearm nerve block and 15 mls of 1.5% Mepivacaine injected to the brachial plexus via the supraclavicular approach. Distal forearm block: 15 mls 1.5% Mepivacaine injected in distal forearm nerve block and 15 mls of saline injected to the brachial plexus via the supraclavicular approach

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I to III 2. Aged 18 and above 3. Able to provide own consent 4. Elective ambulatory surgery in the hand with an expected surgical time of less than 15 minutes that is normally performed with a peripheral nerve block covering the median and ulnar nerve distributions and intravenous sedation without general anesthesia

Exclusion criteria

1\) Surgery outside the median and ulnar nerve distribution in the hand 2) Bilateral surgery 3) body mass index of more than 45 kg/m2 (higher chance of failure) 4) neck or clavicle deformities 5) infection at the injection site 6) existing neurologic disease 7) insulin dependent diabetes 8) Diabetes with peripheral neuropathy or end organ damage 9) allergy to LA agents 10) coagulopathy 11) Past surgery on the same upper limb 12) Any other contraindication to supraclavicular block or forearm blocks 13) Contraindication to monitored anesthesia care with peripheral nerve block as the mode of anesthesia. \-

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Grip Strength	6 months	Maximal Grip Strength x3 using dynanometer

Secondary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Patient Satisfaction	6 months	Patient satisfaction on a linear numerical scale

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

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