The wrist block is a technique for blocking branches of the ulnar,
medial, and radial nerves at the level of the wrist. The wrist block is a
basic peripheral nerve block technique that involves anesthesia of the
median, ulnar, and radial nerves, as well as the dorsal sensory branch of
the ulnar nerve. The wrist block is simple to perform, essentially devoid of
systemic complications, and highly effective for a variety of procedures on
the hand and fingers. As such, skill in performing a wrist block should be
in the armamentarium of every anesthesiologist. Wrist blocks can be used in
the outpatient setting and office setting along with the standard operating
room setting, resulting in safe, effective, and cost-effective anesthesia
that is well accepted by both surgeons and patients.1–8
Wrist blocks are also useful in the emergency setting to provide anesthesia
for repair of hand injuries in the emergency room because there is adequate
anesthesia of the hand without motor blockade of the extrinsic hand
muscles.9