Fentanyl sparing effect of ultrasound-guided proximal radial, ulnar, median, and musculocutaneous nerve (RUMM) block for radial and ulnar fracture repair in dogs: a retrospective case-control study

This study retrospectively evaluated the fentanyl-sparing effect of ultrasound-guided proximal radial, ulnar, median, and musculocutaneous nerve (RUMM) block for radial and ulnar fracture repair in dogs. Fentanyl was prepared for intraoperative analgesia in dogs, although proximal RUMM block was performed using 0.5% or 0.25% bupivacaine before surgery in the block group. Dogs without a nerve block were assigned to the control group. The fentanyl dose in the block group [0.8 (0−1.9) μg/kg/hr] [median (interquartile range)] was significantly lower than in the control group [8.4 (7.2−10) μg/kg/hr]. Surgery was performed without fentanyl in >50% of the dogs (5/7), using 0.5% bupivacaine. Ultrasound-guided proximal RUMM block can be useful as an intraoperative analgesic for radial and ulnar fracture repair in dogs.