Anesthetic digital block with technique V versus technique H in onychocryptosis of infected first toe. Efficacy of the V Technique

Abstract

Summary

The present study compares two techniques of anesthetic blocking of the first toe in patients with infected onychocryptosis. The V technique achieves anesthetic block with a single puncture area on the back of the first toe. With the H technique, two puncture zones are made on the sides of the first toe to achieve the same anesthetic block.

Objectives

A year-long multicenter and prospective study (from September 2018 to September 2019) was performed to compare these two techniques. The time of appearance of the signs of anesthesia at 10 and 20 minutes after performing one of the two techniques was considered as an indicator.

Methods

The sample consisted of 16 patients who presented onychocryptosis and symptoms of infection (pain, hypersensitivity, redness and swelling around the nail plate) on the first toe. The choice of the technique to be used was made according to the clinical history number, in case of being impartial the V technique was performed and in the even numbers the H technique was performed. A total of 8 fingers were anesthetized using the technique in V inverted against 8 fingers anesthetized with  H technique.

Results

In this study, anesthetic block in the first toe 20 minutes after performing the V technique was effective in 87.5% versus 62.5% of cases in technique H.

Conclusions

We believe that in cases where anesthetic blocking is necessary in infected onychocryptosis, the anesthetic blocking technique of choice should be technique V.