The BLOCK Trial will test a well-known and safe anaesthetic method called a regional nerve block as pain management for the re-alignment procedure of your fractured wrist. When placing a regional nerve block, a local anaesthetic is injected around the nerves supplying the arm under the guidance of an ultrasound scanner. This will be compared to standard care, which often includes injecting a local anaesthetic directly into the fracture, called a haematoma block.

We hypothesise that the regional nerve block may provide optimal conditions for the wrist fracture re-alignment procedure, resulting in better anatomical fracture position. This can ultimately lead to a reduced need for surgery, better wrist function and better patient satisfaction.

This trial is initiated by the departments of anaesthesiology and orthopaedic surgery at the Copenhagen University Hospital – North Zealand, Hillerød and it is a national effort including hospitals from all regions in Denmark. This collaborative effort involves experts from the fields of anaesthesiology, orthopaedic surgery, and emergency medicine. You can find more information about our team here.

The trial includes adults, who are physically robust and have suffered a wrist fracture in need of bone realignment in the emergency department.

You will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: the regional nerve block group or the standard care (haematoma block) group. The regional nerve block is placed under the guidance of an ultrasound scanner and it is a commonly used, low-risk, pain-relieving option for many types of arm surgeries. The risks are minimal, and the success rate is high when performed by a skilled anaesthetist. Standard care (haematoma block) is likewise a safe and commonly used method for pain relief for wrist fracture re-alignment.

After your wrist fracture treatment is completed and you have a cast on, you will be discharged from the hospital. However, we will stay in touch with you. You will be contacted approximately 24 hours, 3 months, and 12 months after your treatment, to ask about your pain levels, monitor your healing progress, and determine if the function of your wrist has returned to normal. Your feedback and well-being are very important to us.