FIGURE 35-1. Transducer position and needle insertion using an in-plane technique to block the femoral nerve at the femoral crease.
General Considerations
The ultrasound-guided technique of femoral nerve blockade differs from nerve stimulator or landmark-based techniques in several important aspects. Ultrasound application allows the practitioner to monitor the spread of local anesthetic and needle placement and make appropriate adjustments, should the initial spread be deemed inadequate. Also, because of the proximity to the relatively large femoral artery, ultrasound may reduce the risk of arterial puncture that often occurs with this block with the use of non-ultrasound techniques. Palpating the femoral pulse as a landmark for the block is not required with ultrasound guidance, a process that can be challenging in obese patients. Although the ability to visualize the needle and the relevant anatomy with ultrasound guidance renders nerve stimulation optional, motor response obtained during nerve stimulation often provides contributory information.
Ultrasound Anatomy
Orientation begins with the identification of the pulsating femoral artery at the level of the inguinal crease. If it is not immediately recognized, sliding the transducer medially and laterally will bring the vessel into view eventually. Immediately lateral to the vessel, and deep to the fascia iliaca is the femoral nerve, which is typically hyperechoic and roughly triangular or oval in shape (Figure 35-2A and B). The nerve is positioned in a sulcus in the iliopsoas muscle underneath the fascia iliaca. Other structures that can be visualized are the femoral vein (medial to the artery) and occasionally the fascia lata (superficial in the subcutaneous layer). The femoral nerve typically is visualized at a depth of 2- to 4-cm.
FIGURE 35-2. (A) Cross-sectional anatomy of the femoral nerve (FN) at the level of the femoral crease. FN is seen on the surface of the iliopsoas muscle covered by fascia iliaca. (white arrows). Femoral artery (FA) and femoral vein (FV) are seen enveloped in their own vascular fascial sheath created by one of the layers of fascia lata. (B) Sonoanatomy of the FN at the femoral triangle.
TIP
• Identification of the femoral nerve often is made easier by slightly tilting the transducer cranially or caudally. This adjustment helps “brighten” up the nerve and makes it appear distinct from the background.
Distribution of Blockade
Femoral nerve block results in anesthesia of the anterior and medial thigh down to the knee (the knee included), as well as a variable strip of skin on the medial leg and foot. It also contributes branches to the articular fibers to both the hip and knee. For a more comprehensive review of the femoral nerve distribution, see Chapter 1, Essential Regional Anesthesia Anatomy.
Equipment
Equipment needed includes the following:
• Ultrasound machine with linear transducer (8–14 MHz), sterile sleeve, and gel
• Standard nerve block tray (described in the equipment section)
• One 20-mL syringe containing local anesthetic
• A 50- to 100-mm, 22-gauge short-bevel insulated stimulating needle
• Peripheral nerve stimulator
• Sterile gloves
Landmarks and Patient Positioning
This block typically is performed with the patient in the supine position, with the bed or table flattened to maximize operator access to the inguinal area. Although palpation of the femoral pulse is a useful landmark, it is not required because the artery should be readily visualized by placing the transducer transversely on the inguinal crease followed by slow movement laterally or medially. If nerve stimulation is used simultaneously, exposure of the thigh and patella are required to monitor the appropriate motor responses (patella twitch).
TIP
Exposing the inguinal region in a patient with a large abdominal pannus can be challenging. Using a wide silk tape to retract the abdomen is a useful maneuver prior to skin preparation and scanning. (Figure 35-3).
FIGURE 35-3. Obesity is a common problem in patients who present with an indication for femoral nerve block. Taping the adipose tissue away helps optimize the exposure to the femoral crease in patients with morbid obesity.
Goal
The goal is to place the needle tip immediately adjacent to the lateral aspect of the femoral nerve, either below the fascia iliaca or between the two layers of the fascia iliaca, into the wedge-shaped tissue space lateral to the femoral artery. Proper deposition of local anesthetic is confirmed by observation of the femoral nerve being lifted off of the surface of the iliopsoas muscle or of the spread of the local anesthetic above in the wedged-shaped space lateral to the artery.
Technique
With the patient in the supine position, the skin over the femoral crease is disinfected and the transducer is positioned to identify the femoral artery and/or nerve (Figure 35-4). If the nerve is not immediately apparent lateral to the artery, tilting the transducer proximally or distally often helps to image and highlight the nerve from the rest of the iliopsoas muscle and the more superficial adipose tissue. In doing so, an effort should be made to identify the iliopsoas muscle and its fascia as well as the fascia lata because injection underneath a wrong fascial sheath may not result in spread of the local anesthetic in the desired plane. Once the femoral nerve is identified, a skin wheal of local anesthetic is made on the lateral aspect of the thigh 1 cm away from the lateral edge of the transducer. The needle is inserted in-plane in a lateral-to-medial orientation and advanced toward the femoral nerve (Figure 35-5). If nerve stimulation is used (0.5 mA, 0.1 msec), the passage of the needle through the fascia iliaca and contact of the needle tip with the femoral nerve usually is associated with a motor response of the quadriceps muscle group. In addition, a needle passage through the fascia iliaca is often felt as a “pop” sensation. Once the needle tip is witnessed adjacent (either above, below, or lateral) to the nerve (Figure 35-6), and after careful aspiration, 1 to 2 mL of local anesthetic is injected to confirm the proper needle placement (Figure 35-7). When injection of the local anesthetic does not appear to result in a spread close to the femoral nerve, additional needle repositions and injections may be necessary.
FIGURE 35-4. To image the femoral nerve and/or femoral vessels, the transducer is positioned transversely on the femoral crease as shown on the image.
FIGURE 35-5. Transducer position and needle insertion using an in-plane technique to block the femoral nerve at the femoral crease.
FIGURE 35-6. An ultrasound image of the needle path (1,2) to block the femoral nerve. Both needle positions are underneath fascia iliaca, one superficial to the femoral nerve (1) and one deeper to it (2). Either path is acceptable as long as the local anesthetic spreads within the fascia iliaca (white line) to get in contact with the femoral nerve.
FIGURE 35-7. A simulated needle path (1) and spread of the local anesthetic (blue shaded area) to block the femoral nerve (FN). FA, femoral artery.
TIPS
• The presence of a motor response to nerve stimulation is useful but not necessary to elicit if the nerve, needle, and local anesthetic spread are well-visualized.
• Never inject against high resistance to injection because this may signal an intrafascicular needle placement.
• An out-of-plane technique can also be used. Because the needle tip may not be seen throughout the procedure, we recommend administering intermittent small boluses (0.5–1 mL) as the needle is advanced toward the nerve to indicate the location of the needle tip.
• Circumferential spread of local anesthetic around the nerve is not necessary for this block. A pool of local anesthetic immediately adjacent to either the posterolateral or the anterior aspects is sufficient.
In an adult patient, 10 to 20 mL of local anesthetic is adequate for a successful block (Figure 35-8A and B). The block dynamics and perioperative management are similar to those described in Chapter 21.
FIGURE 35-8. (A) An actual needle path to block the femoral nerve (FN). (B) Spread of the local anesthetic (LA) within two layers of the fascia iliaca to encircle the femoral nerve (FN). FA, femoral artery.
Continuous Ultrasound-Guided Femoral Nerve Block
The goal of the continuous femoral nerve block is similar to that of the non-ultrasound-based techniques: placement of the catheter in the vicinity of the femoral nerve just deep to the fascia iliaca. The procedure consists of three phases: needle placement, catheter advancement, and securing the catheter. For the first two phases of the procedure, ultrasound can be used to ensure accuracy in most patients. The needle typically is inserted in-plane from the lateral-to-medial direction and underneath the nerve. Some clinicians prefer inserting the catheter in the longitudinal plane (inferior-to-superior), analogous to the nerve stimulation-guided technique. No data exist on whether or not one technique is superior to the other. However, the in-line approach from the lateral-to-medial has worked very well in our practice, and it is our preference because it is simpler when using ultrasound guidance.
TIP
• Both stimulating and nonstimulating catheters can be used, although for simplicity we prefer nonstimulating catheters for this indication.
The needle is advanced until the tip is adjacent to the nerve. Proper placement of the needle can be confirmed by obtaining a motor response of the quadriceps/patella, at which point 5 mL of local anesthetic is injected. This small dose of local anesthetic serves to ensure adequate distribution of the local anesthetic, as well as to make the advancement of the catheter easier. This first phase of the procedure does not significantly differ from the single-injection technique. The second phase of the procedure involves maintaining the needle in the proper position and inserting the catheter 2 to 4 cm into the space surrounding the femoral nerve (Figure 35-9). Insertion of the catheter can be accomplished by either a single operator or with a helper. Catheter position is observed on ultrasound as the catheter is being inserted and/or with an injection through the catheter to document its proper location.
FIGURE 35-9. Continuous femoral nerve block. Needle is seen inserted in-plane approaching the nerve from lateral to medial, although it would seem intuitive that a longitudinal insertion of the needle would have advantages with regard to the catheter placement. The technique demonstrated here is simpler and routinely used in our practice with consistent success. The catheter should be inserted 2–4 cm past the needle tip.
The catheter is secured by either taping it to the skin or tunneling. Preference of one technique over the other varies among clinicians, although no data exist on which one is a more secure method. The decision regarding which method to use could be based on the patient’s age (no tunneling for younger patients: less mobile skin, avoidance of posttunneling scar formation), duration of the catheter therapy, and anatomy. In general, the inguinal area is quite mobile and the femoral nerve is not particularly deep, two factors that predispose to catheter dislodgment. The more lateral the starting point for needle insertion for the continuous femoral nerve block, the longer the catheter will be within the iliacus muscle, which may help prevent dislodgment because muscle tends to stabilize a catheter better than adipose tissue. Our empirical infusion regimen for femoral nerve block in an adult patient is ropivacaine 0.2% at a 5 mL/hour infusion rate and a 5 mL/hour patient-controlled bolus.
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