Incidence of Neurological Injury After Ultrasound-Guided Interscalene Brachial Plexus Nerve Block

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to find the incidence of neurological injury after Ultrasound-Guided Interscalene Brachial Plexus Nerve Block. Methodology:This study was a retrospective chart review of 1500 patients undergoing shoulder surgery with single-shot US-ISB from January 2017 to May 2021. The general anesthesia prior to the US-guided ISB procedure was standardized by expert anesthesiologists. Neurological postoperative complications were evaluated at 36hrs,48 hours, about 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and up to resolution after operation. Results:The study results showed that paresthesiawas 5.9 %,2.7%, 2.1%,0.5%,0.1% and 0.1% at 36 hours, 48 hours, two weeks, one month, two months andsix months respectively. Further the result showed that muscular weakness was 5.9%,2.7%, 1.3%, 0.6%, 0.3% and 0.1% at 36 hours ,48 hours, after 2 weeks,1 month, 3 monthsand 6 months respectively. Also hyperesthesia was 1.9%,1.3%,0.8%, 0.8%, 0.5%, 0.2% and 0.1% at 36 hours, 48 hours, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months respectively. Conclusion:According to the study, paresthesia, muscle weakness and hyperesthesia following an ultrasound-guided interscalene brachial plexus block were negligible after six months. Even though paresthesia was affected 5.9% of the study population at 36 hours after surgery, it was significantly reduced to 0.1%. Also muscle weakness was affected 5.9% of the study participants at 36 hours after surgery and it was reduced to 0.1% after 6 months and hyperesthesia affected 1.9% of the study population at 36 hours and it was also reduced to 0.1%. This study demonstrated that Interscalene brachial plexus block was an effective method of analgesia for upper arm limb surgeries.