Which ED procedure involves injecting anesthetic near nerves to numb a region?

• A. Nerve Block
• B. Laceration Repair
• C. Splint Application
• D. Arthrocentesis

Answer: (A)

The concept here is regional anesthesia, specifically a nerve block. A nerve block is when local anesthetic is injected near a nerve or nerve trunk to temporarily interrupt pain signals from that region, numbing the area for procedures without general anesthesia. This is why it’s useful for things like fracture reductions or painful limb manipulations in the ED.

The other procedures have different purposes: laceration repair focuses on closing a wound with sutures; splint application immobilizes an injured limb; arthrocentesis involves inserting a needle into a joint to remove fluid or diagnose joint problems. None of these aim to numb a region by targeting nerves like a nerve block does.