Ultrasound-Guided Cervical Cervicis Plane Block for Postoperative Pain Control in Cervical Spine Surgery: A Technical Note

BACKGROUND: New peripheral nerve blocks targeting the dorsal rami are possible for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing posterior cervical spine surgeries. A cervical cervicis plane (CCeP) block can be performed under ultrasound guidance. We provide a description of this nerve block and ultrasound imaging with relevant sonographic structures. METHODS: Sonographic imaging from 2 spine surgeries showed CCeP blocks at the upper and lower cervical levels. RESULTS: A CCeP block targets the fascial plane between the semispinalis cervicis muscle and the semispinalis capitis muscle because the CCeP is a continuous plane from occiput to C7, which contains the dorsal rami of the cervical spinal nerves. The deep cervical artery can always be identified under ultrasound in this plane. CONCLUSIONS: The CCeP block is an easy nerve block to perform under ultrasound guidance to block the dorsal rami of the cervical nerves. It can provide effective analgesic effects for patients undergoing upper and lower posterior cervical spine surgery without compromising neurophysiology monitoring