Rarely Occurring Unusual Complications Following the Administration of the Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block: A Systematic Review of Case Reports

TL;DR

This paper reviews rare complications from a dental nerve block and highlights the importance of awareness and proper technique to prevent them.

Contribution

A systematic review of rarely reported complications following the inferior alveolar nerve block.

Findings

Rare complications include Horner's syndrome, convulsions, and intracranial air embolism.

Treatment ranged from monitoring to hospital admission depending on severity.

Proper technique and patient management can reduce the risk of these complications.

Abstract

Unusual complications have been associated with the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) block. In this study, we aimed to review and analyze the cases of rarely occurring unusual complications following the administration of the IAN block.

A systematic search of PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct was conducted for articles on rarely occurring unusual complications following the administration of the inferior alveolar nerve block until September 2024, and articles documented in English were included. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 29 articles were selected, of which six articles could not be retrieved. A total of 23 articles were analyzed.

Various rare and unusual complications have been reported, which include Horner's syndrome, blanching of the face, self-inflicted injury, hoarseness, convulsions, headache, intracranial air embolism, glossopharyngeal nerve palsy, bleeding in the external auditory meatus, and herpes zoster infection. Treatment ranged from monitoring in mild cases to hospital admission in severe cases.

Awareness of these complications can help in better patient management. Precautions can be taken by dentists while administering the IAN block to avoid complications. These include the use of proper technique and management of patient anxiety. Rare, unusual complications must be considered when administering the IAN block.

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