ANATOMICAL STUDY OF THE SACUM FOR TRANSSACRAL BLOCK OF SACRAL NERVES

Abstract

Inroduction: For transsacral block of sacral nerves in analgesia and anesthesia of the rectal, anal or urethral region the dorsal sacral foramina are used.To find solution of this by identifying additional anatomical landmarks and measurements of dorsal sacral foramina for transsacral nerve block.

Materials & Method: Total 100 complete and undamaged adult, dry sacrums were measured with a vernier caliper (accurate to 0.1 mm). Dorsal sacral foramina of the sacrum were taken as points. Calculations and analyses were expressed as mean (SD), median and range using Open Office 3.2.0 spreadsheet version for Linux (Ubuntu 10.04).

Results: The average distance between the two superolateral sacral crests was 60.61 (SD 6.71) mm. Distance between dorsal sacral foramina vertical right side 1^st to 2^nd 14.05 (SD 2.35)mm, 2^nd to 3^rd 12.33 (SD 1.84)mm, 3^rd to 4^th 11.26 (SD 2.35)mm and vertical left side 1^st to 2^nd 14.18 (SD 2.61)mm, 2^nd to 3^rd 12.18 (SD 1.95)mm, 3^rd to 4^th 10.78 (SD2.42)mm. Transverse distance between dorsal sacral foramina 1^st to 1^st 34.72 (SD 3.97)mm, 2^nd to 2^nd 29.43 (SD 3.51)mm, 3^rd to 3^rd 25.58 (SD 3.46)mm, 4^th to 4^th 24.63 (SD 3.22)mm.

Conclusion: Measurements of dorsal sacral foramina can be used for transsacral nerve block.