Digital Nerve Block for the Reduction of a Proximal Phalanx Fracture of the Foot – a Case Report

doi:https://doi.org/10.21980/J8KS8T

Digital Nerve Block for the Reduction of a Proximal Phalanx Fracture of the Foot – a Case Report

Emerald Raney, MD^*, John Costumbrado, MD, MPH^*, Barbara Blasko, MD^*and Dev Dhillon, BS^{^}

^*Riverside Community Hospital/University of California Riverside, Department of Emergency Medicine, Riverside, CA

^{^}University of California, Riverside School of Medicine, Riverside, CA

Correspondence should be addressed to John Costumbrado, MD at JohnChristian.Costumbrado@hcahealthcare.com

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21980/J8KS8T Issue 5:1

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ABSTRACT:

Providing efficient, and patient-centered care is the goal for managing patients in the emergency department (ED). In this case report, we will discuss how performing a digital nerve block was critical in providing analgesia and facilitating the reduction of a proximal phalanx fracture in a timely fashion for a pediatric patient that presented to the ED with a complaint of right toe pain after stubbing her toe. Radiographs showed evidence of an acute, displaced fracture of the 4th phalanx of the right foot. Utilizing the two-sided web space block, the patient was able to tolerate reduction and splinting with buddy taping without complications. The patient remained neurovascularly intact prior to and after the procedure. This case report demonstrates how a digital nerve block can be a safe, effective intervention that can improve ED throughput. The patient’s condition improved throughout her ED course, and she was discharged in stable condition.