Nerve Block Tip of the Week: Adductor Canal Block

An adductor canal block anesthetizes the skin from the medial aspect of the leg and knee to the ankle joint and foot. The technique consists of injecting 10 mL of a long-acting local anesthetic (e.g., bupivacaine 0.25% or ropivacaine 0.5%) next to the femoral artery and around the saphenous nerve in the adductor canal. 

As part of our “Nerve Blocks from the App” series, we’re sharing 3 steps to help you identify the correct plane for injection.

1. Identify the femoral artery deep in the sartorius muscle.
2. Identify the limits of the femoral triangle and adductor canal by scanning up and down until the medial border of the sartorius muscle meets the medial border of the adductor longus muscle.
3. From this point, continue to scan distally until the adductor longus muscle becomes shorter and the artery is located in the middle of the sartorius muscle. This location is an adequate site for injection. 

Watch the video below to better understand the process and see how the NYSORA Nerve Blocks App brings these instructions to life:

For more tips like these and the complete guide to the 60 most frequently used nerve blocks, learn more about the Nerve Blocks App HERE.