Forced needle advancement during needle-nerve contact in a porcine model: histological outcome.

Background: In this study, we determined whether needle advancement during needle-nerve contact (forced needle-nerve contact) is associated with a higher risk of nerve injury compared with needle-nerve contact without needle advancement (nonforced needle-nerve contact).

Methods: In 8 anesthetized pigs, the brachial plexus nerves underwent forced (0.15 Newton) or nonforced (0.