The thyrohyoid membrane as a target for ultrasonography-guided block of the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

The objective was to present a proof of concept for a simple and consistently successful ultrasonograpy (US)-guided technique to block the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (iSLN).

DESIGN

This was a volunteer and cadaver anatomy study.

SETTING

The setting was an anesthesiology department and an anatomy laboratory at a medical school

MEASUREMENTS

H13-6 MHz US scans were performed in 40 healthy volunteers positioned supine and with extended necks. The goals were to identify the thyrohyoid membrane, measure its depth (in centimeters) using the shortest vertical distance from the skin, and record the scanning time (in seconds) needed to obtain the optimal image. Anatomical dissection was performed with an operating microscope bilaterally on 5 adult cadaver heads, fixed in formalin, to expose the point of iSLN penetration through the thyrohyoid membrane. The distance between the greater horn of the hyoid bone and the nerve entry point into the thyrohyoid membrane was measured. Ultrasonography-guided in-plane injections were performed unilaterally with 22-gauge 50-mm nerve block needles in 3 fresh cadavers with 2-mL lidocaine/methylene blue mixture deposited under direct vision just superficial to the thyrohyoid membrane to evaluate technical feasibility and injectate spread.

MAIN RESULTS

Anatomically, the iSLN was identified in all formalin-preserved cadavers, with hyoid bone greater horn to nerve-membrane interface distances measuring 1.0-2.4 cm (mean, 2.0 cm; SD, 0.5). Sonographically, the iSLN was not visualized, whereas the hyoid bone and the thyrohyoid membrane were visualized in all volunteers. The mean distance from skin to thyrohyoid membrane was 1.69 cm (SD, 0.38). The mean time needed to scan was 15 seconds (SD, 2.3). After US-guided injection, the dye deposition was observed around the iSLN in all cadaver specimens.

CONCLUSIONS

A simpler and consistently reproducible US-guided iSLN block is feasible using the thyrohyoid membrane as target plane for local anesthetic injection. Clinical trials are needed to determine its effectiveness and safety, needle entry point, trajectory, and local anesthetic volume.