Open AccessBrachial Plexus Entrapment of Interscalene Nerve Catheter after Uncomplicated Ultrasound‐Guided Placement
Author(s) -
Bowens Jr Clifford,
Briggs Eric R.,
Malchow Randall J.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
pain medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.893
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1526-4637
pISSN - 1526-2375
DOI - 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2011.01177.x
Subject(s) - medicine , entrapment , brachial plexus , catheter , surgery , fluoroscopy , shoulder surgery , anesthesia , nerve block , local anesthetic
We report on the case of an entrapped interscalene nerve catheter in a 46‐year‐old male undergoing left shoulder arthroscopic lysis of adhesions for a frozen shoulder. The catheter was placed under ultrasound guidance without any apparent complications. The continuous interscalene nerve block was successfully used as the primary anesthetic and for postoperative pain management. Upon attempted catheter removal, the patient experienced severe pain and paresthesias. Fluoroscopy revealed possible brachial plexus involvement, and surgery was performed to extract the catheter, which had become hooked and entrapped around the C5 nerve root and sheath.