The implications of a broken needle in the pterygomandibular space: clinical guidelines for prevention and retrieval.
The implication of a broken anesthetic injection needle in the posterior part of the oral cavity is described. Needle breakage is preventable if proper preventive measures are used during local anesthesia administration. A broken needle should be removed immediately after a thorough localization and not left in the tissue, as previously believed. Computerized tomography (CT) scan is the proper diagnostic device to locate a broken needle. A careful surgical approach under general anesthesia is recommended to retrieve the needle. Clinical preventive guidelines are described and presented to the pediatric dentist.
Zeltser
Rephael
R
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hebrew University Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. rzeltser@cc.huji.ac.il
Cohen
Carlos
C
Casap
Nardi
N
D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007267:Injections / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D009339:Needles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D011626:Pterygoid Muscles; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed