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Digital nerve blocks are commonly used to provide anesthesia for finger injuries such as lacerations and dislocations. However, the procedure can be painful, as it often requires multiple injections into sensitive areas.
A recent single-center, unblinded randomized study compared the subjective discomfort and analgesic efficacy of traditional digital nerve blocks with ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks. The study included 106 patients, with 53 in each group.
Results showed that patients in the peripheral nerve block group reported higher satisfaction rates. They also experienced less pain during the initial injection and longer-lasting analgesia compared to those who received digital nerve blocks. While digital blocks had a faster onset of anesthesia, they were associated with a higher rate of block failure.
References
Chororia, Samata et al. Dorsal Digital Nerve Block vs. Ultrasound-Guided Selective Peripheral Nerve Block for Finger Analgesia: A Randomized Controlled Study. Journal of Emergency Medicine. Article in Press. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2025.05.005.