Nine quadriplegic stroke, traumatic brain injury, and hypoxic ischemic encephaopathy patients suffering hip adductor spasticity were selected for obturator nerve blocks with sono-guided intraneural alcohol injection. The obturator nerve was identified...
Nine quadriplegic stroke, traumatic brain injury, and hypoxic ischemic encephaopathy patients suffering hip adductor spasticity were selected for obturator nerve blocks with sono-guided intraneural alcohol injection. The obturator nerve was identified at just below inguinal ligament area on anteromedial surface of upper leg at supine position. An 23G needle was inserted into anterior branch of obturator nerve under real time ultrasonography. The 50% alcohol solution was injected 3~5 ml at a time within the epineurium of the anterior branch of obturator nerve until the expanding nerve was visualized. We examed modified Ashworth scale (MAS) of hip adductor and passive range of movement of hip abduction at supine position. After sono-guided intraneural injection, MAS of hip adductors was decreased and hip abduction angle was increased. Ultrasonography guidance makes it exact to identify obturator nerve and to inject neurolytic solution to target. It can lead minimal complications by checking the direction of the needle. Sono-guided intraneural alcohol injection into anterior branch of obturator nerve for treatment of hip adductor spasticity in patients with quadriplegia is an effective and safe procedure for relieving localized spasticity of the hip adductors