Ultrasound Guidance for the Psoas Compartment Block: An Imaging Study

Abstract

We developed an ultrasound-guided approach to the psoas compartment at the levels L2-3, L3-4, and L4-5. Feasibility and accuracy were tested on embalmed cadavers and verified by means of computed tomography. Ultrasound guidance proved to be feasible and accurate for the performance of psoas compartment blocks.

Ultrasound Guidance for Interventional Pain Management of Lumbar Facet Joint Pain: An Anatomical and Clinical Study

“…Alternatively, ultrasound guidance can be used for needle placement. Ultrasonography plays an important role in aiding regional nerve and peripheral-nerve blocks (19)(20)(21)(22). Greher et al reported a high success rate, clinical feasibility, and usefulness of ultrasound-guided lumbar medial branch blocks (11,23).…”

The Comparing of Ultrasound-guided Techniques: Sciatic Block with Continuous Lumbar Plexus Block or Continuous Femoral Nerve Block for Anesthesia and Analgesia of Total knee Replacement

“…Ultrasound guidance, however, may increase the safety and efficacy of both techniques [19,20]. Above all for lumbar plexus block, this could translate into higher success rates and reduced needle-related complications [21].…”

Ultrasound imaging in cadavers: training in imaging for regional blockade at the trunk

“…5 Fascicular-appearing muscular landmarks will be useful particularly if the psoas major muscle is adequately viewed with the help of higher resolution systems; the plexus consistently lies at the junction of the posterior third and anterior two-thirds of this muscle (this location is often used as a surrogate marker for the unidentified plexus). 6,7 In addition to reducing the risks of complications, ultrasonographic visualization of the kidneys and related vessels may allow a more cephalad needle insertion (e.g., L3-4) than that at the more traditional level of L4-5, 7 which may provide more consistent blockade of the iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves.…”