engleski

Anatomical landmarks for sciatic nerve access in pinnipeds

General anesthesia in pinnipeds is considered to involve a prolonged recovery and is associated with serious risks caused by the activation of the dive reflex during anesthesia. Therefore, regional anesthesia may provide a potential solution to alleviate the associated risks of general anesthesia. The ventral branches of the lumbosacral nerves are involved in innervation of the lateral abdomen, pelvic musculature and the pelvic limb. The aim of this study was to investigate anatomical considerations for the appropriate injection site for administration of local anesthetics for a sciatic nerve (n. ischiadicus) block. In order to describe the nerves responsible for innervation of the pelvic limb, caudal portions of previously necropsied 10 California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) and 4 Northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) were dissected. The femorotibial joint was used as an orientation point in order to reach the sciatic nerve in both the California sea lions and the Northern elephant seals. It was shown that the sciatic nerve can be reached by positioning the needle in the center of an imaginary triangle between the femorotibial joint, the dorsal midline and the basis of the tail in California sea lions, and in Northern elephant seals by positioning the needle in the center of the line joining the femorotibial joint and the dorsal midline. Although previously not investigated or considered in practical pinniped medicine, these anatomical landmarks can provide useful guidelines for the potential development of regional anesthesia and analgesia techniques for surgical procedures involving the hind limbs, as an alternative to general anesthesia.

sciatic nerve ; pinniped ; regional anesthesia

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