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Ultrasound-Guided Greater Auricular Nerve Block: A Pilot Study for Pain Management in Post-Auricular Injection
Lehao Wu1, Hu Li2, Ruibo Tian3
1Department of Plastic Surgery, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Plastic Surgery Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
|August 3, 2026
Summary
Ultrasound-guided greater auricular nerve (GAN) block effectively numbs the post-auricular region for cosmetic procedures. This technique significantly reduces injection pain and preserves surgical landmarks, offering a safer alternative to traditional methods.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Plastic Surgery
- Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia
Background:
- Post-auricular aesthetic procedures often use local infiltration, causing pain and distorting tissue.
- The greater auricular nerve (GAN) is the primary sensory nerve for the post-auricular region.
- GAN blockade offers a potential alternative for regional anesthesia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided GAN block for post-auricular anesthesia.
- To compare pain reduction and preservation of surgical landmarks with GAN block versus traditional methods.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, self-controlled, single-blind study with 20 healthy volunteers.
- Ultrasound-guided GAN block on one side, sham injection on the contralateral side.
- Sensory mapping, pressure pain thresholds, and VAS scores assessed outcomes.
Main Results:
- GAN block provided anesthesia to most of the post-auricular region, sparing the conchal bowl.
- Significantly increased pain thresholds and reduced VAS scores on the blocked side (p<0.02).
- Mean block duration was 4.47 hours with no complications.
Conclusions:
- Ultrasound-guided GAN block is a feasible technique for profound post-auricular anesthesia.
- It effectively reduces injection pain, preserves landmarks, and provides analgesia.
- Supports further patient-based trials for this minimally invasive approach.
