Combined ultrasound- and nerve stimulator-guided brachial plexus nerve block in a pig undergoing olecranon fracture repair

Abstract

A male pot-bellied pig was presented for left thoracic limb lameness. A fracture of the olecranon apophysis with displacement was diagnosed, and fracture stabilisation was performed under general anaesthesia. After anaesthetic induction, an axillary brachial plexus nerve block (BPB) with bupivacaine was performed using a portable ultrasound device and a nerve locator. Heart rate and blood pressure were monitored for nociception and the need for analgesic intervention during the procedure. No analgesic intervention was deemed necessary, as the pig did not meet predefined nociceptive thresholds. The pig recovered from general anaesthesia uneventfully without clinical signs of pain or complications. The affected limb was knuckled and lacked conscious proprioception immediately after recovery. Sixteen hours after BPB, knuckling resolved, and normal conscious proprioception was observed. No obvious adverse effects from BPB were noted. The combination of ultrasound and nerve stimulator-guided BPB with bupivacaine was successful in a pig.