Indications

Contraindications

Clinical anatomy

The cervical plexus is formed from the ventral rami of the upper four cervical nerves. The dorsal and ventral roots combine to form spinal nerves as they exit through the intervertebral foramina. The cervical nerves exit from the cervical spine through gutters in the transverse processes that run in an anterolateral direction, immediately posterior to the vertebral artery. The cervical plexus lies behind the sternocleidomastoid muscle, giving off both superficial (superficial cervical plexus) and deep (deep cervical plexus) branches.

The branches of the superficial cervical plexus supply the skin and superficial structures of the head, neck, and shoulder. There are four cutaneous branches, which become subcutaneous at the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (Fig. 11.1). The lesser occipital and great auricular are derived from the C2 and C3 roots and run in a cephalad direction. The lesser occipital nerve supplies sensation to the upper side of the neck, the upper part of the auricle, and the adjoining skin of the scalp. The great auricular nerve is the largest cutaneous branch and divides into an anterior and a posterior branch. The posterior branch supplies the skin lying behind the ear and the medial and lateral surfaces of the lower part of the auricle. The anterior branch supplies the skin in the lower posterior part of the face and the concave surface of the auricle. The transverse cervical nerve, also from C2 and C3 roots, runs horizontally across the neck and provides sensory innervation to the anterolateral aspect of the neck from the mandible to the sternum. The supraclavicular branch, from the C3 and C4 roots, runs caudally over the clavicle and divides into three branches: medial, intermediate, and lateral. It provides sensory innervation to the lower aspect of the neck, acromial region of the neck, and as far as the second intercostal space on the chest.

Figure 11.1 Cadaver structures illustrating branches of the superficial cervical plexus. 1: sternocleidomastoid muscle; 2: clavicle; 3: transverse cervical nerve; 4: lesser occipital nerve; 5: great auricular nerve (anterior and posterior branches); 6: supraclavicular branches (medial, intermediate, and lateral branches).

The deep branches of the cervical plexus innervate the deeper structures of the neck, including the muscles of the anterior neck and the diaphragm (phrenic nerve).

Surface anatomy

The main landmarks for the superficial cervical plexus block (Fig. 11.2) include the mastoid process, suprasternal notch, and posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle at the level of the cricoid cartilage. The sternocleidomastoid muscle and its posterior border can be accentuated by asking the patient to perform a head lift. The external jugular vein crosses the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle close to the injection site. It can be accentuated by asking the patient to perform a Valsalva maneuver. The carotid artery can be palpated medial to the sternocleidomastoid muscle and indicates the vascular nature of the territory.

Figure 11.2 Landmarks for the superficial cervical plexus block. The mastoid and suprasternal notch are marked with a pen and the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid is outlined. The needle insertion point is at the midpoint of this line, which corresponds to the level of the cricoid cartilage.

The main landmarks for the deep cervical plexus block (Fig. 11.3) include the mastoid process; the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle at the level of the cricoid cartilage; C6 transverse process (the most prominent cervical transverse process); and the thyroid cartilage.

Figure 11.3 Landmarks for the deep cervical plexus block. The mastoid process, suprasternal notch, and transverse process of C6 are identified and marked. A line is drawn along the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. A second line is drawn 1 cm posterior to the first line. The C4 transverse process is identified in relation to the transverse process of C6 or at the level of the superior aspect of the thyroid cartilage. Transverse processes of C3 and C2 are located 1.5 and 3 cm proximal from C4.

Sonoanatomy

The cervical plexus is found at the level of the first four cervical vertebrae deep to the sternocleidomastoid, in the layer superficial to the scalenus medius and levator scapulae. The cervical plexus can be further divided into a superficial and deep portion. The superficial branches perforate the cervical fascia to supply skin and other integumental structures whilst the deep branches predominantly supply muscle. The patient is positioned supine with the head slightly turned to the opposite side. Perform a systematic survey from superficial to deep, medial to lateral and cranially. A high frequency ultrasound transducer is placed in a coronal plane anterolateral to the neck to identify the respective vertebral level The transverse process of C7 usually does not have an anterior tubercle, but only one prominent posterior tubercle (Fig 11.4). Additionally, the C6 transverse process is sonographically verified by tracing the course of the vertebral artery, which usually enters the foramen at that vertebra. After achieving a coronal echoplane with the depiction of the transverse processes of C6 and C7, the transducer is shifted cranially and the fourth cervical vertebra (C4) is identified by counting the respective vertebral levels upwards. Parts of the superficial plexus can be identified in the double fascial layer in all patients at the level of C4. This double fascial layer is formed by the fascia of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the deep cervical fascia (Fig. 11.5). Here the C4 nerve root can also be seen arising between the anterior and posterior tubercles of the fourth transverse process (Fig. 11.5). This level correlates with the carotid bifurcation in most patients (Fig. 11.5).

Figure 11.4 The transverse process of C7 usually does not have an anterior tubercle, but only one prominent posterior tubercle (PT). R = nerve root.