Sonographic tracking of trunk nerves: essential for ultrasound-guided pain management and research


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Chang K., Lin C., Lin C., Wu W., Karmakar M. K., ÖZÇAKAR L.

JOURNAL OF PAIN RESEARCH, vol.10, pp.79-88, 2017 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 10
  • Publication Date: 2017
  • Doi Number: 10.2147/jpr.s123828
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF PAIN RESEARCH
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.79-88
  • Keywords: ultrasound, nerve, trunk, lumbar, pain, LIMB PERIPHERAL-NERVES, VIDEO DEMONSTRATION, BRACHIAL-PLEXUS, PICTORIAL ESSAY, CADAVERS, BLOCK
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Delineation of architecture of peripheral nerves can be successfully achieved by high-resolution ultrasound (US), which is essential for US-guided pain management. There are numerous musculoskeletal pain syndromes involving the trunk nerves necessitating US for evaluation and guided interventions. The most common peripheral nerve disorders at the trunk region include thoracic outlet syndrome (brachial plexus), scapular winging (long thoracic nerve), interscapular pain (dorsal scapular nerve), and lumbar facet joint syndrome (medial branches of spinal nerves). Until now, there is no single article systematically summarizing the anatomy, sonographic pictures, and video demonstration of scanning techniques regarding trunk nerves. In this review, the authors have incorporated serial figures of transducer placement, US images, and videos for scanning the nerves in the trunk region and hope this paper helps physicians familiarize themselves with nerve sonoanatomy and further apply this technique for US-guided pain medicine and research.