Mental nerve block
Synonym(s): Perineural anesthesia of mental nerve
Introduction
- Perineural anesthesia of the mental nerve, a branch of the mandibular nerve.
Uses
- Facilitates examination of traumatic lesions of the lower lip and rostral mandible.
- Minor surgery of the lower lip and rostral mandible.
- Drug application into the mental canal enables cerclage-wire repair of a mandibular symphysis fracture and incisor tooth extraction.
- As an adjunct in a patient under general anesthesia as part of multi-modal anesthesia and analgesia.
Advantages
- Inexpensive and minimal equipment needs.
- Minimal side effects.
- Allows standing surgery.
- Minimal patient recovery time.
Disadvantages
- Depending on accuracy of block placement, the area of desensitization can be variable.
- Knowledge of the anatomical landmarks is required.
- Good head restraint is required.
Technical problems
- Drug application into the mental canal can be difficult.
- Palpation of the foramen and nerve is not always possible, and ‘blind’ injection based on landmarks may be required.
Alternative techniques
- For examination, deep sedation Sedation: overview (for example, with Xylazine HCl Xylazine)
- For surgical procedures, general anesthesia. General anesthesia
Time required
Preparation
- Site preparation (clipping and surgical scrub): 5 – 10 minutes.
Procedure
- 5 minutes per side/nerve.
- Allow 15 – 20 minutes for block to take effect.
Decision taking
Criteria for choosing technique
- Lesion type and location.
- Generic factors that determine most appropriate type of anesthesia.
Risk assessment
- Good head restraint is required to allow accurate placement of nerve block and avoid injury (including self-injection) to practitioner.
Requirements
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Preparation
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Technique
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Aftercare
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Outcomes
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed Papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
Other sources of information
- Wiley & Sons (2015) Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. 5th edn.