Testing of Pre-Operative Peripheral Nerve Blocks in Randomised Controlled Trials: A Scoping Review.

This scoping review investigated contemporary practise in test methodology reporting in RCTs involving PNBs. We found that although most trials do report testing PNBs, about one in four did not. Furthermore, approximately two in five trials did not define what constituted a successful block or report PNB success rates. Lack of consistent and transparent test methodology poses challenges when comparing trials and performing meta-analyses, and in translating trial findings into clinical practise. This scoping review exposes a methodological blind spot in regional anaesthesia research. Despite widespread use of peripheral nerve blocks, a substantial proportion of randomised trials fail to report testing methods, success definitions, or handling of failed blocks. Such omissions undermine interpretability, comparability, and clinical translation, and strengthen the case for standardised reporting of regional anaesthesia assessment in future trials.