ANESTHESIA IN THE EMERGENCY SETTING .1. HAND AND FOOT INJURIES

Topical application and local infiltration of anesthetic agents are us eful for localized areas, while a circular field block provides superf icial anesthesia within the encircled area. Regional anesthesia is acc omplished by injecting the anesthetic agent near a nerve or nerve grou p. Useful anesthetic techniques for repair of hand injuries include wr ist blocks, intermetacarpal blocks and local infiltration anesthesia. Median nerve block, ulnar nerve block, radial nerve block or a combina tion of these blocks provides satisfactory anesthesia without inducing muscle paralysis in the anesthetized region. Intermetacarpal digital blocks are used to anesthetize any finger. Local infiltration is usefu l for closing minor lacerations. For foot injuries, the posterior ankl e block is used to anesthetize the sole. The anterior ankle block is u sed for the dorsum of the foot.