Anatomical study of ultrasound vs landmark guidance for needle placement in the obliquus capitis inferior
Abstract Needling of obliquus capitis inferior (OCI) muscle could be an important intervention for individuals with upper cervical pain; however, precision is important due to its sensitive location. The aim was to assess the accuracy, safety and performance of needling OCI using palpation versus ul...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96225-x |
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| author | Jacobo Rodríguez-Sanz César Fernández-de-las-Peñas Sergio Borrella-Andrés Carlos López-de-Celis José L. Arias-Buría Albert Pérez-Bellmunt Isabel Albarova-Corral Miguel Malo-Urriés |
| author_facet | Jacobo Rodríguez-Sanz César Fernández-de-las-Peñas Sergio Borrella-Andrés Carlos López-de-Celis José L. Arias-Buría Albert Pérez-Bellmunt Isabel Albarova-Corral Miguel Malo-Urriés |
| author_sort | Jacobo Rodríguez-Sanz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Needling of obliquus capitis inferior (OCI) muscle could be an important intervention for individuals with upper cervical pain; however, precision is important due to its sensitive location. The aim was to assess the accuracy, safety and performance of needling OCI using palpation versus ultrasound-guidance in a cadaveric model. A cross-sectional anatomical study was conducted. Five therapists each performed a series of 20 needle insertion tasks (n = 100) on 10 anatomical samples. Distance from the needle tip to the target, if the OCI muscle belly was reached (accuracy), surrounding sensitive structures targeted (safety), time needed, number of needles passes, and the length of the needle remaining outside the skin were assessed. The ultrasound-guided procedure was associated with significantly greater accuracy and safety (p < 0.001). The ultrasound-guided procedure achieved 100% accuracy of reaching the OCI compared to 40% with the palpation-guided procedure, with a shorter distance from the needle tip to the target. In the palpation-guided procedure, potentially sensitive structures were pierced in 38% of cases compared to only 4% with the ultrasound-guided approach. However, the palpation-guided procedure required less time and fewer passes. Our findings suggest that ultrasound-guided procedure showed greater accuracy and safety than palpation-guided procedures for properly targeted the OCI muscle belly. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-86292fbd1dba46f0adcaea79f0e2aaf4 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-86292fbd1dba46f0adcaea79f0e2aaf42025-08-20T03:07:41ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-011511710.1038/s41598-025-96225-xAnatomical study of ultrasound vs landmark guidance for needle placement in the obliquus capitis inferiorJacobo Rodríguez-Sanz0César Fernández-de-las-Peñas1Sergio Borrella-Andrés2Carlos López-de-Celis3José L. Arias-Buría4Albert Pérez-Bellmunt5Isabel Albarova-Corral6Miguel Malo-Urriés7Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universitat Internacional de CatalunyaDepartment of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan CarlosDepartment of Physiatry and Nursery, Health Sciences Faculty, University of ZaragozaFaculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universitat Internacional de CatalunyaDepartment of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan CarlosFaculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universitat Internacional de CatalunyaDepartment of Physiatry and Nursery, Health Sciences Faculty, University of ZaragozaDepartment of Physiatry and Nursery, Health Sciences Faculty, University of ZaragozaAbstract Needling of obliquus capitis inferior (OCI) muscle could be an important intervention for individuals with upper cervical pain; however, precision is important due to its sensitive location. The aim was to assess the accuracy, safety and performance of needling OCI using palpation versus ultrasound-guidance in a cadaveric model. A cross-sectional anatomical study was conducted. Five therapists each performed a series of 20 needle insertion tasks (n = 100) on 10 anatomical samples. Distance from the needle tip to the target, if the OCI muscle belly was reached (accuracy), surrounding sensitive structures targeted (safety), time needed, number of needles passes, and the length of the needle remaining outside the skin were assessed. The ultrasound-guided procedure was associated with significantly greater accuracy and safety (p < 0.001). The ultrasound-guided procedure achieved 100% accuracy of reaching the OCI compared to 40% with the palpation-guided procedure, with a shorter distance from the needle tip to the target. In the palpation-guided procedure, potentially sensitive structures were pierced in 38% of cases compared to only 4% with the ultrasound-guided approach. However, the palpation-guided procedure required less time and fewer passes. Our findings suggest that ultrasound-guided procedure showed greater accuracy and safety than palpation-guided procedures for properly targeted the OCI muscle belly.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96225-xObliquus capitis inferiorUltrasoundPalpationNeedlingCadaverPhysiotherapy |
| spellingShingle | Jacobo Rodríguez-Sanz César Fernández-de-las-Peñas Sergio Borrella-Andrés Carlos López-de-Celis José L. Arias-Buría Albert Pérez-Bellmunt Isabel Albarova-Corral Miguel Malo-Urriés Anatomical study of ultrasound vs landmark guidance for needle placement in the obliquus capitis inferior Scientific Reports Obliquus capitis inferior Ultrasound Palpation Needling Cadaver Physiotherapy |
| title | Anatomical study of ultrasound vs landmark guidance for needle placement in the obliquus capitis inferior |
| title_full | Anatomical study of ultrasound vs landmark guidance for needle placement in the obliquus capitis inferior |
| title_fullStr | Anatomical study of ultrasound vs landmark guidance for needle placement in the obliquus capitis inferior |
| title_full_unstemmed | Anatomical study of ultrasound vs landmark guidance for needle placement in the obliquus capitis inferior |
| title_short | Anatomical study of ultrasound vs landmark guidance for needle placement in the obliquus capitis inferior |
| title_sort | anatomical study of ultrasound vs landmark guidance for needle placement in the obliquus capitis inferior |
| topic | Obliquus capitis inferior Ultrasound Palpation Needling Cadaver Physiotherapy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96225-x |
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