Abstract
Objective Sympathetic blocks are used as an adjunct for pain management in the treatment of orthopedic and traumatic conditions. Stellate ganglion (ganglion stellatum) provides sympathetic innervation of the head, neck and cervicothoracic regions, and upper extremities. No study was found in the literature investigating the effects of stellate ganglion block performed in the upper extremity, on blood supply to bone, density, vascularization, and bone metabolism. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of stellate ganglion block on healing of closed forearm fractures that were induced in rats. Material and Methods. A total of 42 Wistar albino rats weighing between 398 and 510 g were used in this study. The rats were randomly divided into 2 groups with one group treated with stellate ganglion and the other included as the control group. In each 2 groups, a closed forearm fracture was created, confirmed with X-ray, and then stabilized by splint application. The forearm bones were examined with X-ray views on the same day and were then decalcified. Results When histological findings of the fracture region were examined, predominantly cartilage and less woven bone were found in 7 rats, equally distributed cartilage and immature bone in 14 rats, and predominantly imitation bone and less cartilage formation in 21 rats. In the control group, the agreement between the 1st and 2nd orthopedists for the radiological evaluation of bone formation was moderate. Conclusion The group administered stellate ganglion block showed a more significant fracture healing.
Highlights
Fractures are one of the most commonly encountered types of injury in orthopedics and traumatology practice, and surgical intervention is performed in many of such injuries.According to the statistics of the United States of America (USA), 590,193 persons experience upper extremity fractures each year, with most common ones being distal radius and ulnar fractures followed by hand bone fractures, proximal humerus fractures, and clavicular fractures [1].Fracture healing is a specific wound healing response occurring with new bone formation
When histopathologic findings of the fracture regions were compared between the groups, the rate of predominantly immature bone and less cartilage was significantly higher in the experimental group compared to the control group (p = 0:006) (Table 1)
A low-to-moderate agreement was found between the first and second observers in terms of the results of remodeling in the experimental group (ƙ = 0.432) (p < 0:001). The objective of this experimental study was to investigate the effect of stellate ganglion block on a closed fracture model induced in forearms of rats and to discuss the results with the current literature
Summary
Sympathetic blocks are used as an adjunct for pain management in the treatment of orthopedic and traumatic conditions. Stellate ganglion (ganglion stellatum) provides sympathetic innervation of the head, neck and cervicothoracic regions, and upper extremities. No study was found in the literature investigating the effects of stellate ganglion block performed in the upper extremity, on blood supply to bone, density, vascularization, and bone metabolism. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of stellate ganglion block on healing of closed forearm fractures that were induced in rats. The rats were randomly divided into 2 groups with one group treated with stellate ganglion and the other included as the control group. In each 2 groups, a closed forearm fracture was created, confirmed with X-ray, and stabilized by splint application. The group administered stellate ganglion block showed a more significant fracture healing
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call