Indications Laceration or other surgically treated lesion of the volar surface of the radial (lateral) half of the hand from the thumb through the radial half of the ring finger and including the corresponding dorsal fingertip surfaces (excluding the thumb) * Ring removal from the index, middle, or ring finger Pain control for hand or digit fractures A nerve block has advantages over local anesthetic infiltration because it can cause less pain (eg, in palmar skin repair) and does not distort tissue. * To anesthetize the entire palm, also do an ulnar nerve block.