Does Peripheral Nerve Stimulator-Guided Extraoral Mandibular Nerve Block Provide Effective Anaesthesia for Third...

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Anesthesiology
• Pain Management

Background:

• Extraoral mandibular nerve blocks are crucial for analgesia but can be challenging due to anatomical variations.
• Peripheral nerve stimulators (PNS) offer a method to electrically guide nerve blocks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of PNS-guided extraoral mandibular nerve blocks compared to conventional methods.
• To assess the impact of PNS guidance on anesthesia success and patient pain during third molar extraction.

Main Methods:

• A prospective interventional study involving 42 patients undergoing mandibular third molar extraction.
• Patients were randomized into a control group (conventional block) and a test group (PNS-guided block).
• Anesthesia success, pain levels (Visual Analogue Scale), and duration were compared between groups.

Main Results:

• No anesthesia failures or intraoperative pain reported in either group, with no supplemental injections needed.
• The PNS-guided group maintained a Visual Analogue Scale score of ≤2 up to 6 hours post-procedure.
• Statistical analysis using paired t test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test confirmed significant findings.

Conclusions:

• PNS-guided extraoral mandibular nerve blocks are a reliable, secure, and safer option for third molar surgery.
• This technique enhances block success and patient comfort.
• Potential future applications include pain control in major oral and maxillofacial procedures.