Hematoma block

Background

A hematoma block relatively noninvasive method of analgesia in preparation for relocation of a displaced fracture. The procedure involves the injection of a local anesthetic into a collection of blood that has extravasated into the soft tissue between two fragments of displaced bone. This extravasated blood exists because of damage to the blood vessels within the fractured bone. With injection of a local anesthetic into this "pool" of blood", painless manipulation of the involved fragments of bone is achieved, thus sparing the patient from more invasive analgesic techniques such as conscious sedation and the risks associated with that.