How to Perform an Anesthetic Digital Block

An anesthetic digital block is used to numb an entire finger or toe. The injection is given at the base of the digit on either side to prevent the transmission of pain signals. Anesthetic digital blocks are useful when performing sutures, stapling skin, removing nails or toenails and assessing motor nerve damage when a person can't move her digit without pain.

Things You'll Need

• 1 percent lidocaine solution
• 3 to 5 ml syringe
• 23 to 30 gauge needle
• Alcohol pad
• Gauze pad

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Instructions

How to Perform an Anesthetic Digital Block

• 1

  Prepare the injection by drawing the desired amount of lidocaine--three milliliters is usually enough--from the vial.

• 2

  Clean the injection sites at the base of the digit just above the bottom knuckle on both sides of the digit with the alcohol pad and let dry. Do not touch the injection site after cleansing.

• 3

  Insert the needle perpendicular to the top of the finger right next to the bone. Be careful not to push the needle out of the bottom of the finger. The needle should be in the layer of fat under the skin. This can easily be determined by the "give" you will feel when you have penetrated the skin.

• 4

  Inject about one milliliter of lidocaine into the fatty layer under the skin. The nerve you are numbing runs through this space and must be surrounded by lidocaine to prevent the transmission of nerve signals. The injection should be performed as you are pulling the needle back out of the skin and should take about one second.

• 5

  Repeat the procedure on the opposite side of the digit. Wait about five minutes and check the digit for sensation. Pressure is a normal sensation but if any pain is felt, the process can be repeated with another millileter of lidocaine on each side of the digit.