Distribution Patterns of Vasculature Around Cervical Nerve Roots

Abstract

Background: To the authors' knowledge, there has not been an ultrasound study of the vulnerable vessels in a C3-7 cervical nerve root block (CNRB).

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of vulnerable vessels around the target of a CNRB at the cervical nerve root of C3-7 levels in a clinical setting.

Design: Retrospective, cross-sectional study.

Setting: General teaching hospital, rehabilitation unit.

Participants: A total of 104 patients complaining of neck or arm pain with no prior surgical history and who had undergone a CNRB at an outpatient clinic from May 2015 to December 2017 were included.

Main outcome measurements: The prevalence of vulnerable vessels as seen on a preprocedure ultrasound scan around the target of a CNRB at the cervical nerve root of C3-7 levels.

Results: Out of 104 cases, the C3 level had 7 blood vessels (8.33%), the C4 level had 14 blood vessels (13.86%), the C5 level had 17 blood vessels (16.35%), the C6 level had 27 blood vessels (25.96%), and the C7 level had 31 blood vessels (29.81%) either at the targeted cervical nerve root or at the site of the imaginary needle's projected pathway to the targeted cervical nerve root.

Conclusion: There was a substantial prevalence of vulnerable vessels either at the targeted nerve root or at the site of the needle's projected pathway to the nerve root.