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Mental nerve block

ISSN 2398-2993

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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

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

Other sources of information

  • Wiley & Sons (2015) Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. 5th edn.