Distribution Patterns of Vasculature Around Cervical Nerve Roots

Abstract

Background To the authors' knowledge, there has not been an ultrasound study of the vulnerable vessels in a C3‐7 cervical nerve root block (CNRB). Objectives To evaluate the prevalence of vulnerable vessels around the target of a CNRB at the cervical nerve root of C3‐7 levels in a clinical setting. Design Retrospective, cross‐sectional study. Setting General teaching hospital, rehabilitation unit. Participants A total of 104 patients complaining of neck or arm pain with no prior surgical history and who had undergone a CNRB at an outpatient clinic from May 2015 to December 2017 were included. Main outcome measurements The prevalence of vulnerable vessels as seen on a preprocedure ultrasound scan around the target of a CNRB at the cervical nerve root of C3‐7 levels. Results Out of 104 cases, the C3 level had 7 blood vessels (8.33%), the C4 level had 14 blood vessels (13.86%), the C5 level had 17 blood vessels (16.35%), the C6 level had 27 blood vessels (25.96%), and the C7 level had 31 blood vessels (29.81%) either at the targeted cervical nerve root or at the site of the imaginary needle's projected pathway to the targeted cervical nerve root. Conclusion There was a substantial prevalence of vulnerable vessels either at the targeted nerve root or at the site of the needle's projected pathway to the nerve root.

Findings of Electrodiagnostic Studies in Moderate to Severe Lumbar Central Spinal Stenosis—Electrodiagnostic Studies in Lumbar Central Spinal Stenosis

“…The typical electrophysiological finding in LCSS is radiculopathy, which results from nerve root damage by mechanical compression or ischemic injury [7,8]. Although NCS and EMG are commonly used for detecting radiculopathy in patients with spinal stenosis, their sensitivity is thought to be low [9][10][11][12][13]. However, studies addressing this issue have included patients with a wide spectrum of stenosis, ranging from mild to most severe.…”