Deep venous thrombosis revealed during ultrasound-guided femoral nerve block

Ultrasound imaging used to facilitate performance of a femoral nerve block also affords imaging of adjacent anatomical structures. Following a fracture of the femur, an ultrasound guided femoral nerve block (UGFNB) was performed to provide analgesia; this led to the incidental finding of a previously undiagnosed femoral vein thrombosis (DVT), resulting in a change in patient management before surgery. An inferior vena cava (IVC) filter was placed before intramedullary nailing of the fracture.