Purpose: To determine the usefulness of Brachial Plexus Block (BPB) performed under fluoloscopy to alleviate cervical, shoulder and arm pain.
Materials and Methods: The brachial plexus was blocked following the subclavian approach in 100 patients who were treated at the Kanto Teishin Hospital Pain Clinic. BPB was performed with the patients in the supine position on the fluoroscopic table. One-direction radiographs of P-A views were taken after placing needles in the first rib and administering the contrast solution.
Results: Among the 59 patients with radiculopathy, an excellent effect was obtained in six and a good effect in 33 patients. As for the 41 patients without radiculopathies, an excellent effect was attained in 13 and a good effect in 23 patients. There was a significant difference between excellent groups and good+unchanged groups, and also between excellent+good groups and unchanged groups regarding the efficacy of BPB. Patients with radiculopathy were painless for 4.5±1.9 days after BPB, while those without radiculopathy were painless for 6.9±3.1 days after the treatment. The overall effectiveness ratio of BPB was 77%, and the ratio of BPB combined with Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) was 81%.
Conclusion: BPB effectively alleviated pain in almost 75% of the radiculopathy cases; and patients were painless after BPB for various days. BPB was frequently combined with SGB, and it was possible that the effect of BPB was increased by SGB. BPB was significantly more effective in patients without radiculopathies than in those with radiculopathies, suggesting that the effectiveness of BPB will depend on the severity of clinical symptoms.