Regional anaesthesia of the upper limb

Peripheral nerve blocks of the upper limb can provide excellent anaesthesia and postoperative analgesia. A variety of well-established traditional approaches to the brachial plexus exist, namely interscalene, supraclavicular, infraclavicular, and axillary techniques. Individual terminal nerves such as the median, radial, ulnar, and other smaller nerves can also be blocked more distally. The traditional and ultrasound-guided approach to each of these nerve blocks is discussed in turn in this chapter, along with specific indications and complications. The introduction of ultrasound guidance has generated significant excitement in this field in the last 10 years and has been demonstrated to improve efficacy and reduce complications. However, a sound knowledge of anatomy of the nerve supply to the upper limb remains essential during any upper limb regional anaesthesia technique.