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Description of the Brachial Plexus Block at the Humeral Head in Children: a Sono-anatomical Study

Description of the Brachial Plexus Block at the Humeral Head in Children: a Sono-anatomical Study

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06158243
Enrollment
50
Registered
2023-12-06
Start date
2023-12-31
Completion date
2024-04-30
Last updated
2023-12-06

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

Conditions

Anesthesia, Local, Brachial Plexus; Pressure

Keywords

Brachial plexus

Brief summary

the investigators are interested in assessing the feasibility and value of brachial plexus block at the level of the humeral head in children. As a first step, the investigators propose to carry out a sono-anatomical study to describe the plexus at this level, the distribution of nerves in relation to the axillary artery, and the description of bone and muscle structures.

Detailed description

Brachial plexus blocks below the clavicle provide anesthesia and analgesia of the upper limb for elbow, forearm and hand surgery. Among the techniques described, axillary and costo-clavicular blocks are most frequently used. In the axillary approach to the brachial plexus, the ulnar, median and radial nerves are in the direct vicinity of the axillary artery. However, there is considerable variability in the location of these nerves . What's more, the musculocutaneous nerve is most often distant from the other nerves of the plexus. These disadvantages are not encountered with the costo-clavicular technique, in which the nerves are brought together in the same diffusion space. On the other hand, this method does run the risk of pneumothorax and anesthesia of the phrenic nerve. In this context, the investigators have described the brachial plexus block at the level of the humeral head in adults, which enables practicians to work on nerves gathered around the axillary artery without any risk of phrenic or pulmonary damage4. In children, Small et al described a supra-clavicular approach, but Clayton et al, noting the high risk of pneumothorax, strongly advocated the axillary approach.

Interventions

OTHERSono-anatomical Study

The arm is abducted (90°), externally rotated, with the forearm flexed over the arm (90°). A linear ultrasound probe (8-15 MHz) is placed in front of the humeral head, in a sagittal plane. Location begins at axillary level, vessels, nerves and humerus are identified, and the probe is moved medially to reach and identify the humeral head.

Sponsors

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Saint Pierre
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
1 Months to 10 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* patient ASA 1-2 * aged 0 to 10 years * scheduled surgery * parental consent obtained

Exclusion criteria

* Parental refusal to participate * suspicion of local skin infection * inability to place the limb in the position required for sonographic examination * Upper limb malformation * ASA III, IV * Major surgery (cardiac, neurosurgery...) * emergencies

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
description of the position of the nerves around the axillary arterythrough study completion, around 5 monthsHourly distribution of nerve structures around the axillary artery , expressed in degrees and measured with a protractor

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
distance between anatomical structuresthrough study completion, around 5 monthsdepth of diffusion spaces Skin-cartilage distance Cartilage thickness Skin-nerve distance Skin-to-vessel distance size of nerves all these measurements in centimeters

Contacts

Primary ContactRaoul Ngatcha
ngatchag@yahoo.fr+32493869805

Outcome results

None listed

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