Ultrasound‐guided sciatic and femoral nerve blocks for metatarsal fracture stabilisation in a two‐day‐old neonatal calf

Abstract

A two-day-old heifer calf presented with a non-weight bearing right hindlimb lameness following a traumatic event. A closed, complete, overriding, displaced fracture of the distal right metatarsal diaphysis was diagnosed and closed reduction and cast placement was elected as treatment. The calf was sedated intravenously with a combination of diazepam and ketamine. With the calf in lateral recumbency, sciatic and femoral nerve blocks were performed using procaine to provide analgesia and muscle relaxation for the procedure. The procedure was performed with the patient sedated and no further anaesthetics or analgesics were needed. This report is the first describing the use of sciatic and femoral nerve blocks as analgesia for a young calf. The success of the technique allowed a decrease in the dosage of other systemic drugs. This is an important factor in decreasing potential complications related to anaesthesia in these patients.

Repeated ultrasound‐guided saphenous and sciatic nerve block in a calf with tibial comminuted fracture undergoing surgical stabilisation

“…Viscasillas et al. published an ultrasound‐guided approach for a metatarsal fracture in a 2‐day‐old neonatal calf 12 following the described sciatic nerve block by Re et al 7 . The approach to the sciatic nerve of the present case report was slightly different to the one described by Re et al., as it was performed using a cranio‐caudal direction between the femur and the sciatic nerve.…”

“…Ultrasound-guided sciatic nerve block was previously described in four calves by Re et al as a hyperechoic band located distal to the greater trochanter of the femur and caudal to the femoral shaft in a transverse ultrasound transducer position. 7 Viscasillas et al published an ultrasound-guided approach for a metatarsal fracture in a 2-day-old neonatal calf 12 following the described sciatic nerve block by Re et al 7 The approach to the sciatic nerve of the present case report was slightly different to the one described by Re et al, as it was performed using a cranio-caudal direction between the femur and the sciatic nerve.…”

Ultrasound-guided psoas compartment and sciatic nerve blocks for pain management of hind limb procedures in the alpaca (<i>Vicugna pacos</i>)

“…The decision was made not to use this technique for these cases, as in both situations recovery from anesthesia with rapid ambulation was deemed to be in the animals’ best interests. An alternative PNB that could have been utilized is the FN block, at the level of the femoral triangle that has previously been investigated in farm animals ( Adami et al , 2011 ; Viscasillas et al , 2015 ). Further options such as a ring block or a Bier block ( Valverde and Sinclair, 2015 ), commonly used for procedures of the distal limb in farm animals, were considered for the second case.…”

“…For FN block, the most commonly used approach is through the medial femoral triangle, an area that is delineated by the pectineus muscle caudally, the sartorius muscle cranially, and the iliopsoas muscle (IPM) proximally ( Campoy and Mahler, 2013 ). These techniques have been successfully reported in a number of species, including the dog, guinea pig, rabbit, goat, calf, wallaby, and raptor ( Shilo et al , 2010 ; Adami et al , 2011 ; Aguiar et al , 2014 ; d’Ovidio et al , 2014 ; 2015 ; Viscasillas et al , 2015 ; Monticelli et al , 2016 ).…”

Effects of two different topographic approaches for combined sciatic and femoral nerve block in calves, guided by ultrasound and neurostimulation

“…The PA consisted of a sciatic and femoral nerve block performed by a parasacral ( Waag et al., 2014 ) and a ventral to the ilium ( Devlamynck et al., 2013 ) approach, respectively. The DA consisted of a sciatic and femoral nerve block performed lateral to the pelvic limb ( Re et al., 2014 ) and an inguinal approach ( Viscasillas et al., 2015 ), respectively: Parasacral approach (sciatic nerve): through the dorsal aspect of the gluteal area, tracing a line between the dorso-cranial portion of the iliac crest and ischiatic tuberosity, the ultrasound probe is positioned in its medium portion and, through the superficial and middle gluteal muscles, the sciatic nerve is identified medially to the body of the ilium and close to the cranial gluteal artery and vein. Ventral to the ilium approach (femoral nerve): ventrally to the body of the ilium, the ultrasound probe is placed through the lateral aspect of the pelvic limb, approximately 3 to 4 cm caudal to the iliac wing, and in between the psoas major and minor muscles, near the external iliac artery and vein, the femoral nerve is located.…”