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Updated: Apr 4, 2026
Author Spotlight: Enhancing Success of Ultrasound-Guided Neuraxial Anesthesia in Cases with Difficult Anatomy
Published on: January 31, 2025
Histological confirmation of needle tip position during ultrasound-guided interscalene block: a randomized comparison
Jennifer J Szerb1, Justin L Greenberg2, M Kwesi Kwofie2
1Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management and Perioperative Medicine, QEII Health Science Centre, Dalhousie University, Victoria General Site, 10 West Victoria, 1276 South Park St., Halifax, NS, B3H 2Y9, Canada. szerbj@ns.sympatico.ca.
Purpose:
Ultrasound-guided interscalene block can be performed using either periplexus or intraplexus needle placement. In this novel study, we histologically examined the needle tip position in relation to the neural tissues with the two techniques. Our objective was to investigate the variable risk of subepineurial needle tip placement resulting from the two ultrasound-guided techniques.
Methods:
In an embalmed cadaveric model, periplexus or intraplexus interscalene injections were performed with the side, order, and technique assigned randomly. Under real-time ultrasound guidance, the block needle was placed next to the hyperechoic layer of the plexus (periplexus) or between the hypoechoic nerve roots (intraplexus). Once positioned, 0.1 mL of black acrylic ink was injected. The brachial plexus tissues were then removed and histology sections were prepared and then coded in order to blind two reviewers to group allocation. The area of ink staining was used to determine needle tip location, and the groups were compared for the presence of subepineurial ink.
Results:
Twenty-six cadavers had each of the blocks performed on either brachial plexus (i.e., 52 injections). No subepineurial ink deposits were observed in the periplexus group (0%), but subepineurial ink deposition was observed in 3/26 (11.5%) intraplexus injections (odds ratio, 0; 95% confidence interval, 0 to 2.362; P = 0.235). Furthermore, in the intraplexus group, two (of the three) subepineurial ink deposits were observed under the perineurium.
Conclusion:
Although our study was somewhat underpowered due to a lower than previously reported rate of subepineurial needle tip positioning, our results suggest that there may be an increased likelihood of subepineurial needle tip position with the intraplexus approach. The periplexus technique resulted in no subepineurial spread of ink, suggesting that this approach may be less likely to result in mechanical trauma to nerves from direct needle injury.
