Histology of the fascial planes: a systematic review of the microstructural foundations of regional anesthesia
- Open Access
- 05.12.2025
- Review
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Search strategy
Inclusion/exclusion criteria
Study selection
Data extraction and retrieval
Risk of bias assessment
Data synthesis
Results
Study characteristics
Author | Country | COI | Fascia | N | Age (year) | Gender (M) | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bednar (1995) [12] | Canada | None | TLF | 24 | NS | NS | Surgical |
Fede (2018) [13] | Italy | NS | FL,RS | 15 | 27 to 98 | 6 (40%) | Surgical |
Hirsch (1963) [14] | United States | NS | TLF | NS | NS | NS | NS |
Marpalli (2021) [15] | India | None | TLF | 20 | NS | NS | Embalmed C |
Pans (2000) [16] | Belgium | NS | TF | 40 | 56.6 ± 14.5 | 35 (87.5%) | Surgical, Fresh C |
Pirri (2020) [17] | Italy | None | FL | 3 | 60 ± 5 | 2 (66.7%) | Fresh C |
Przybycień (2024) [18] | Poland | None | TLF | 4 | 47 to 96 | 4 (100%) | Fixed C |
Rodrigues (1990) [19] | Brazil | None | TF | 20 | 13 to 81 | 20 (100%) | Surgical |
Stecco (2007) [20] | Italy | NS | P | 13 | 79.9 | 10 (76.9%) | Fresh C |
Stecco (2008) [21] | Italy | None | FL | 6 | 69 | 4 (66.7%) | Fresh C |
Stecco (2009) [22] | Italy | NS | P | 6 | 69 | 4 (66.7%) | Fresh C |
Stecco#2 (2009) [23] | Italy | None | PF, FL | 6 | 48 to 93 | 4 (66.7%) | Fresh C |
Szczesny (2013) [24] | Poland | NS | RS | 49 | 44.8 | 22(56.4%) | Surgical |
Tesarz (2011) [25] | Germany | NS | TLF | 3 | NS | 2 (66.6%) | Surgical |
Tesh (1987) [26] | United Kingdom | NS | TLF | NS | NS | NS | NS |
Ugwoke (2025) [27] | Slovenia | None | FL, TLF | 4 | 65 to 74 | 4 (100%) | Fresh C |
Yahia (1992) [28] | Canada | NS | TLF | 7 | 30 to 46 | 6 (85.7%) | Surgical |
Fascia | RA technique of interest | Mean thickness and structure | Mean HA content (µg) | Nerve fibers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fascia lata | Fascia iliaca block | 805 to 944 µm with anterior to posterior thickness gradient | 35.4 ± 3 | + |
Pectoral fascia | Interpectoral plane block Pectoserratus plane block | 297 µm with cranio-caudal thickness gradient | NI | + |
Rectus sheath | Rectus sheath block | densely packed fibrous bundles interspersed with small amounts of adipose tissue | 29.1 ± 0.2 | NI |
Fascia transversalis | Transversalis fascia plane block Quadratus lumborum plane block | thin layer composed by an elastic system comprising three distinct fiber types—oxytalan, elaunin, and elastic fibers | NI | NI |
Thoracolumbar fascia | Erector spinae plane block Retrolaminar plane block Quadratus lumborum plane block | Up to 1500 µm. Two-layers with a trilaminar structure with each lamina separated by thin, loose connective tissue rich in type I collagen | NI | ± |
Author (year) | D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | D5 | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bednar (1995) [12] | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Fede (2018) [13] | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Hirsch (1963) [14] | High | High | High | High | High | High |
Marpalli (2021) [15] | High | Low | Low | Low | Low | High |
Pans (2000) [16] | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Pirri (2020) [17] | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Przybycień (2024) [18] | Unclear | Low | Low | Low | Low | Unclear |
Rodrigues (1990) [19] | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Stecco (2007) [20] | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Stecco (2008) [21] | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Stecco (2009) [22] | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Stecco#2 (2009) [23] | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Szczesny (2013) [24] | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Tesarz (2011) [25] | High | Low | Low | Low | Low | High |
Tesh (1987) [26] | High | High | High | Low | Low | High |
Ugwoke (2025) [27] | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Yahia (1992) [28] | Low | Unclear | Low | Low | Low | Unclear |