Mandibular nerve blocks for the removal of dentures during trismus caused by tetanus.
We report a case of trismus caused by tetanus in an 80-yr-old woman who developed severe and painful masseter spasms during which she violently bit the tip of her tongue with her dentures. Bilateral mandibular blocks were performed to remove the dentures. The patient fully recovered. We suggest that mandibular blocks are a useful tool in the management of oral events during trismus in conscious patients.
Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Military Teaching Hospital, Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées Sainte Anne, Bvd Ste Anne, Service de Réanimation, 83800 Toulon-Naval, France. meaudre@club-internet.fr
Eric
E
Meaudre
Georges
G
Pernod
Pierre-Emmanuel
PE
Gaillard
Eric
E
Kaiser
Emmanuel
E
Cantais
Jacques
J
Ripart
Bruno
B
Palmier
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003778:Dentures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008340:Mandibular Nerve; D008406:Masseter Muscle / Q000187:drug effects; D009126:Muscle Relaxation; D009407:Nerve Block; D013742:Tetanus / Q000150:complications*; D014059:Tongue / Q000293:injuries; D014313:Trismus / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*