Ultrasound-guided inferior alveolar nerve block for trismus during dental treatment: a case report

Abstract

Background Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a broad term that encompasses pain and/or dysfunction of the masticatory musculature and TM joints (TMJs). When TMD becomes a chronic condition, the symptoms are extremely difficult to manage and require multiple interventions. Case presentation A woman in her 50s developed TMD after a traffic accident 30 years ago. The patient presented with severe trismus due to TMJ pain and a maximum mouth opening of 20 mm. Ultrasound-guided inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) was performed with ropivacaine. After IANB, the pain during mouth opening subsided and the maximum mouth opening improved to 40 mm. Dental treatment could be performed without difficulty and the patient could keep her mouth open throughout the treatment. Conclusions Treatments for chronic TMD are limited and it is necessary to identify the precise etiology before choosing a treatment option. In this patient, ultrasound-guided IANB proved to be effective in relieving TMD-related trismus.

Mouth-Opener Technique for Ultrasound-Guided Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block: A Case Series of Extraction of Impacted Mandibular Third Molars

“…Ultrasound-guided inferior alveolar nerve block (UGIANB) approaches the same area as the conventional IANB from the body surface. In recent years, it has shown high success rates and effectiveness in mandible surgery [ 11 , 12 ]. UGIANB is useful because it allows real-time monitoring of the needle tip, the important structures such as the arteries and the muscles, and the local anesthetic.…”

A Novel Pain Relief Approach for the Treatment of Multiple Dental Caries and Pulpitis

“…Some reports have shown that ultrasound-guided TNB provides good post-operative analgesia in maxillofacial surgeries [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. Additionally, ultrasound-guided TNB can be performed under general or local anesthesia without complication [10]. Here, we report the results of our use of this technique via the case of a patient with dental phobia.…”

Postoperative complications of ultrasound-guided inferior alveolar nerve and maxillary nerve blocks: a retrospective study

“…To the Editor, Recent studies have reported that ultrasound-guided trigeminal nerve blocks are effective as a postoperative analgesic method in maxillofacial surgery [1][2][3][4]. These mainly include ultrasound-guided inferior alveolar nerve blocks (IANBs), also called mandibular nerve blocks, and ultrasound-guided maxillary nerve blocks (MNBs) [5].…”