Lumbar plexus in children - A sonographic study and its relevance to pediatric regional anesthesia

Background: Pediatric regional anesthesia has gained increasing interest over the past decades. The current study was conducted to investigate the lumbar paravertebral region and the lumbar plexus at L3-L4 and L4-L5 by means of sonography to obtain fundamentals for the performance of ultrasound-guided posterior lumbar plexus blocks. Methods: Thirty-two children (12 boys, 20 girls) with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II were enrolled in the current study. The lumbar paravertebral region was visualized at L3-L4 and L4-L5 on two corresponding posterior sonograms (longitudinal, transverse). The lumbar plexus had to be delineated, and skin-plexus distances were measured. In a series of five pediatric patients undergoing inguinal herniotomy, ultrasound-guided posterior lumbar plexus blocks at L4-L5 were performed. Results: The children were stratified into three age groups (group 1: > 3 yr and less than or equal to 5 yr; group 2: > 5 yr and less than or equal to 8 yr; group 3: > 8 yr and less than or equal to 12 yr). The lumbar plexus could be delineated at L3-L4 and L4-L5 in 19 of 20 cases in group 1, in 17 of 20 cases in group 2, in 22 of 24 cases at L3-L4 in group 3, and in 16 of 24 cases at L4-L5 in group 3. In all patients, the lumbar plexus was situated within the posterior part of the psoas major muscle. Skin-plexus distances showed statistical significant differences between groups 1 and 3 and between groups 2 and 3. The strongest positive correlation existed between skin-plexus distances and the children's weight. Ultrasound guidance enabled safe and successful posterior approaches to the lumbar plexus, thus resulting in effective anesthesia and analgesia of the inguinal region. Conclusions: Sonography of the lumbar plexus in children proved to be feasible. Skin-plexus distances correlated with the children's weight rather than with their age. The sonographic findings were fundamental for the performance of successful ultrasound-guided posterior approaches in a small group of pediatric patients.