Brachial plexus and points for anesthetic block in royal sloth and common sloth

[Plexo braquial e pontos para bloqueio anestésico em preguiça-real e preguiça-comum]

ABSTRACT

This study presents a macroscopic description of the brachial plexus in the royal sloth, Choloepus didactylus, and the common sloth, Bradypus variegatus, to identify the points for anesthetic block to perform surgical procedures. Six C. didactylus and nine B. variegatus had their forelimbs dissected, exposing the brachial plexus, and the points for blockage were located subsequently. In general, the formation of the brachial plexus in C. didactylus involved C5-T1 nerves, whereas the brachial plexus in a few individuals of the species involved C4-T2. In B. variegatus, the brachial plexus was contributed by C6-T2. In both species, the ramifications gave rise to three trunks that joined together to form a common brachial plexus trunk. In the brachial plexus block technique, four accesses were performed: supraclavicular, infraclavicular, axillary, and distal. The results of this study contribute to surgical and anesthetic procedures and research on comparative anatomy among wild animals.

Keywords:
Bradypus variegatus; Choloepus didactylus; neuroanatomy; Xenarthra