Effectiveness of Ultrasound (US) Guided Supraclavicular Block

Effectiveness of Ultrasound Guided Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block With 20, 30, or 40 ml of Ropivacaine 0.5%

This research study is being done in order to find out if there is any difference in the effectiveness of ultrasound guided supraclavicular brachial plexus nerve block that can be achieved with 3 different amounts of ropivacaine 0.5% (20 ml, 30 ml, and 40 ml). The investigators want to show if you can have a successful nerve block with less amount of local anesthetic, thus potentially decreasing the risk of side effects.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients between the ages of 18-64,
• Patients who are ASA I-III, presenting for distal upper extremity surgery. Surgeries to be considered are ORIF of distal upper extremity fractures such as ORIF radius, ORIF ulna, ORIF of any bones in the wrist or hand, and distal upper extremity surgery involving bones or tendons for which postoperative pain is to be expected. No emergency surgeries will be considered.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Emergency surgery,
• Patient or surgeon refusal
• Patients for which peripheral nerve block or study medications are contraindicated,
• Patients on chronic analgesic therapy at home,
• History of nerve injury, neuropathy, or known neurologic injury or illness, or inability to properly describe postoperative pain to investigators (language barrier, psychiatric disorder, dementia).