Ultrasound-Guided Mandibular Alveolar Nerve Block in Rabbits: A Cadaveric Comparison of In-Plane and Out-of-Plane...

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Anesthesiology
• Comparative Anatomy

Background:

• Mandibular dental disease is prevalent in pet rabbits, often necessitating invasive procedures with significant pain.
• Current blind techniques for mandibular alveolar nerve blocks lack objective accuracy evaluation.
• Ultrasound-guided approaches for this nerve block in rabbits have not been previously reported.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an ultrasound-guided mandibular alveolar nerve block technique in rabbits.
• To compare the efficacy of in-plane versus out-of-plane needle approaches.
• To assess the anatomical feasibility and accuracy of ultrasound guidance.

Main Methods:

• A cadaveric study involving twelve New Zealand White rabbits (24 nerves).
• One nerve per rabbit underwent an in-plane ultrasound-guided block, the contralateral used an out-of-plane approach.
• Injection of lidocaine and methylene blue, followed by assessment of image quality, staining, and dye spread.

Main Results:

• Both in-plane and out-of-plane approaches enabled consistent identification of the target region.
• Comparable ultrasound image quality, perineural staining scores, and longitudinal dye spread were observed between techniques.
• No statistically significant differences were found between the in-plane and out-of-plane approaches.

Conclusions:

• Ultrasound-guided mandibular alveolar nerve blocks are anatomically feasible in rabbits using either in-plane or out-of-plane techniques.
• The study demonstrates the potential for improved accuracy in regional anesthesia for rabbits.
• Further in vivo research is necessary to confirm clinical efficacy and safety.