Nerve blocks commonly administered by anesthesiologists for both surgical anesthesia and post-operative pain management. Traditionally, femoral nerve blocks are performed on patients undergoing surgery on the front of the thigh or knee, or for quadriceps tendon repair. If a femoral block is combined with a block of the sciatic nerve, it will provide anesthesia of the front thigh, femur and knee joint. The block also provides anesthesia to the skin on the leg right below the knee.
Femoral blocks work nearly 95% of the time, however the procedure is relativily easy to perform it carries with it significant complications if done improperly.
The femoral nerve is the largest branch of the nerves in the lumbar plexus. It arises from the second, third and fourth lumbar nerves. The femoral nerve passes through the fibers of the psoas muscle passing between the psoas and the iliacus. The femoral nerve passes underneath the inguinal ligament into the thigh, where it flattens out under the femoral artery supplying muscular branches of the iliacus, pectineus, and the muscles on the anterior thigh. The femoral nerve also provides cutaneous filaments to the front and inner side of the thigh and to the leg and foot (saphenous nerve), as well as the articular branches to the hip and knee joints.
Since the relationship of the femoral artery, femoral nerve and satiorious muscle are different for every patient, anesthesiologist have to confirm the anatomy before doing the procedure. This is done by quadriceps stimulation before injecting any local anesthetic.
When performing the block the patient should be laying on her back with only the correct leg exposed. The leg should be properly marked pursuant to the Universal Protocol. The standard regional anesthesia tray should be provided and prepared in advance of the procedure. Traditionally, it would include a marking pen and a peripheral nerve stimulator.
Anesthesiologists must identify specific anatomy landmarks of the Femoral Crease and Femoral Aretery before they insert a needle. The marking pen is required in order to label the femoral artery and the needle insertion point. There are also specific techniques for inserting the needle. Some anesthesiologists prefer to inject at the inguinal ligament other use the femoral crease. Before the actual injection the site must be cleaned and numbed with a local anesthetic.
Common complications of Femoral Blocks include infection, hematoma, vascular puncture and nerve injury. Our Florida nerve block injury lawyers are focused and dedicated to helping the victims of botched nerve blocks obtain compensation for their injuries. The safety of patients is important to our office and we are experienced in the representation of those who have been injured by careless anesthesiologist and hospitals.