Necrosis of the skin of the chin: a possible complication of inferior alveolar nerve block injection.
BACKGROUND
The literature describes different local complications derived from a local anesthetic. The authors present a report of a case of such a complication-a complication of which they have identified only one other similar case in the literature.


METHODS
A 10-year-old girl received an inferior alveolar nerve block injection for a dental restoration on the right side. After the procedure, she developed pallor of the right side of the lower lip and chin that subsequently evolved into a surface ulceration. The lesion suddenly healed 15 days later. The authors ruled out self-inflicted injury, intra-operative injury and skin infection as causes.


CONCLUSIONS
and


CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of the clinical manifestations and affected anatomical structures, the authors postulated skin necrosis secondary to vascular spasm of the terminal branches of the inferior alveolar artery. Even when clinicians use the utmost care, this kind of complication can occur as a result of an inferior alveolar nerve block injection. The practitioner should diagnose the problem appropriately and reassure the patient.
Torrente-Castells
Eulàlia
E
Master's Program in Oral Surgery and Implantology, Faculty of Dentistry, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain.
Gargallo-Albiol
Jordi
J
Rodríguez-Baeza
Alfonso
A
Berini-Aytés
Leonardo
L
Gay-Escoda
Cosme
C
D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002355:Carticaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002680:Chin; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections / Q000009:adverse effects; D008334:Mandible; D008340:Mandibular Nerve; D009336:Necrosis / Q000209:etiology; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*
D004338:Drug Combinations; D002355:Carticaine; D004837:Epinephrine