Paravertebral block for forelimb anesthesia in the dog--an anatomic study

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Anatomy
• Surgical Procedures
• Pain Management

Background:

• Effective analgesia for canine forelimb surgery is crucial.
• The brachial plexus provides innervation to the forelimb.
• Accurate landmark identification is essential for regional anesthesia techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define precise anatomical landmarks for performing paravertebral forelimb blocks in dogs.
• To establish a reliable technique for targeting nerves of the brachial plexus.

Main Methods:

• Utilized nine canine cadavers for anatomical study.
• Targeted intervertebral foramina between C5 and T2 vertebrae.
• Described specific needle insertion angles and distances from the median plane.

Main Results:

• Successful staining of all four targeted nerves occurred in 33% of cadavers.
• Three out of four nerves were successfully stained in 66% of cadavers.
• The C6-C7 spinal nerve was consistently stained in all specimens.

Conclusions:

• The identified anatomical landmarks facilitate reliable paravertebral forelimb block placement in dogs.
• This technique allows for effective anesthesia of the entire forelimb via brachial plexus targeting.