Ultrasonic Morphological Study of the Great Auricular Nerve and Adjacent Structures

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Ultrasound-guided nerve block has the characteristics of high success rate, few complications, and high patient satisfaction. It has been widely used in brachial plexus and lumbar plexus nerve blocks. Studies of ultrasound-guided superficial cervical plexus block are mostly unsatisfactory, and may be due to anatomic localization of the puncture site rather than real-time ultrasound guidance. The great auricular nerve is the largest branch of the superficial cervical plexus and may be identified under ultrasound. The aim of this study is to establish the success rate of identification of the great auricular nerve by combining ultrasound imaging with transcutaneous nerve stimulation. In addition, we will study the relationship between the success rate of identification and the related factors of patients. Another purpose of this study is to locate the position where the great auricular nerve emerges the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. The relationship between this point and the midpoint of posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and adjacent structures will also be studied.

Official Title
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Morphological Study of the Great Auricular Nerve and Adjacent Structures by Ultrasound Imaging and Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation

Conditions
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Great Auricular Nerve

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Patients undergoing surgery in changzheng hospital Exclusion Criteria: Suffering from malignant tumors, poor overall condition Communication barriers, unable to objectively describe symptoms Huge mass in the neck

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Success rate of identification of the great auricular nerve combining ultrasound imaging with transcutaneous nerve stimulation | Proportion of patients who's great auricular nerve was identified by combining ultrasound imaging with transcutaneous nerve stimulation | 1 year | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Difference in gender | Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they recognized the great auricular nerve or not, and the differences in gender composition were compared. | 1 year | 
| Difference in BMI | Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they recognized the great auricular nerve or not, and the differences in BMI were compared. | 1 year | 
| Difference in body fat rate | Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they recognized the great auricular nerve or not, and the differences in body fat rate were compared. | 1 year | 
| Difference in neck circumference | Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they recognized the great auricular nerve or not, and the differences in neck circumference were compared. | 1 year | 
| Success rate of identification of the great auricular nerve by ultrasound | Proportion of patients who's great auricular nerve was identified by ultrasound | 1 year | 
| Distance between GAP and M | the distance between the point where the great auricular nerve emerges the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the midpoint of posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle | 1 year | 
| SCM length | length of the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle | 1 year | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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sternocleidomastoid muscle, Superficial Cervical Plexus block, ultrasound