A warm finger could reveal a failing anesthetic block

NCT ID NCT07745985

First seen Aug 04, 2026 · Last updated Aug 05, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether measuring skin temperature and blood flow in the little finger can predict when a nerve block for upper limb surgery fails to numb the ulnar nerve. About 92 adults having elective surgery below the elbow will receive a standard ultrasound-guided supraclavicular block, and researchers will track temperature and perfusion index changes over the first 30 minutes. The goal is to see if these simple, non-invasive measurements can catch 'ulnar sparing' early, so anesthesiologists can act before surgery begins.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Infrared thermography and perfusion index monitoring
What this could lead to
If successful, this could give anesthesiologists a quick, non-invasive way to spot incomplete nerve blocks early, allowing them to adjust anesthesia before surgery starts.
What could go wrong
This is a small, single-center observational study, so results may not apply broadly. The predictive accuracy could be lower than expected, and the technique depends on controlled conditions that may be hard to replicate in routine practice.

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