Brachial Plexus Block vs General Anesthesia in Upper Extremity Surgery

Comparison of Brachial Plexus Block Versus General Anesthesia for Upper Extremity Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study compares two different anesthesia methods for upper arm and hand surgery: regional anesthesia (brachial plexus block) versus general anesthesia.

Regional anesthesia numbs only the arm being operated on by injecting local anesthetic near the nerves, while the patient remains awake or lightly sedated. General anesthesia puts the patient completely asleep using medications given through a breathing tube.

The main goals of this study are to compare:

• How much pain patients experience after surgery
• Patient satisfaction with their anesthesia
• Side effects such as nausea, vomiting, or breathing problems
• Time until patients are ready to go home
• Overall safety of each method

Participants in this study will be randomly assigned to receive either brachial plexus block or general anesthesia for their scheduled upper extremity surgery. The research team will monitor participants during surgery and follow their recovery for 24 hours after the operation.

This research will help doctors and patients make better-informed decisions about which type of anesthesia may be best for upper extremity procedures.

Inclusion Criteria:

• clusion Criteria:
• Adults aged 18-65 years
• ASA physical status I-II
• Scheduled for elective upper-extremity orthopedic surgery
• Able to provide informed consent
• Able to understand and complete study questionnaires

Exclusion Criteria:

• Contraindications to regional anesthesia
• Coagulopathy or bleeding disorders
• Local infection at the block site
• Patient refusal of regional anesthesia
• Known allergy to local anesthetic agents
• Chronic opioid use (daily use for >3 months)
• Psychiatric disorders preventing cooperation or consent
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Severe respiratory disease (for general anesthesia group)
• Pre-existing neurological deficit in the operative extremity
• Emergency surgery
• ASA physical status III or higher