This video demonstrates the digital blocking of a finger prior to lesion removal. Understanding how to perform a digital block is important for medical students, residents, family and emergency. Finger Digital Block General Surgery Online Notebook by Calvin Lee, MD , Board Certified General Surgeon, Modesto, CA and advice from Tammy Wu, MD , Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Modesto, CA. A digital nerve block is indicated for the treatment and repair of many acute conditions, including finger or toe lacerations beyond the mid-proximal phalanx, nail bed injuries, paronychias, nail avulsions, and foreign bodies of the digit. Lidocaine is by far the most commonly used because of its excellent activity profile, low allergenicity and toxicity, user familiarity, and ready availability. PROCAINE - is useful for patients. DESCRIPTION. A 16-year-old previously well female, nonsmoker, without significant medical history, received an injection of lidocaine with epinephrine from her dermatologist, delivered in his office, to the radial and ulnar aspects of the middle phalanx of her long finger before having a skin lesion (wart) removed. This page includes the following topics and synonyms: Digital Block, Digital Nerve Block, Digital Ring Block, Metacarpal Block, Metatarsal Block, Transthecal Digital Block, One Injection Digital Anesthesia, Wing Block. Surgery on fingers is a common procedure in emergency and day care surgery. Adrenaline combined with lidocaine can prolong digital nerve block and provide a bloodless operating field. FIGURE 52.2 Digital nerve block: Transthecal approach. The needle is directed into the proximal digital crease at a 45-degree angle to the long axis of the digit into the flexor tendon sheath where the lidocaine is deposited slowly. Digital block is one of the most common nerve block techniques. It is frequently used in the emergency department and primary care settings for various procedures such as lacerations of the finger or toe, nail removal, nail bed repair, paronychia drainage, removal of foreign bodies, and any other painful procedures on digits. Some physicians add lidocaine to the back and front of the finger, forming a ring of anesthetic completely around the base (called a ring block ). It takes between 5-10 minutes for the anesthetic to completely take effect, causing the finger to feel heavy and numb. Typically the anesthesia lasts between 1-2 hours, and the doctor is able to repair any injuries.