What are the possible complications of infraorbital nerve block?

Answer

Complications from infraorbital nerve block may include the following:

Bleeding
Hematoma formation
Allergic or systemic reaction to anesthetic agent
Infection
Unintentional injection into artery or vein
Failure to anesthetize
Nerve damage
Swelling of the eyelid

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References

Aggarwal A, Kaur H, Gupta T, Tubbs RS, Sahni D, Batra YK, et al. Anatomical study of the infraorbital foramen: A basis for successful infraorbital nerve block. Clin Anat. 2015 Sep. 28 (6):753-60. [Medline].
Gray H, Lewis WH. The trigeminal nerve. Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body. Bartleby.com. Available at http://www.bartleby.com/107/200.html. Accessed: May 16, 2008.
Amsterdam JT, Kilgore KP. Regional anesthesia of the head and neck. Roberts JR, Hedges JR, eds. Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Company; 2004. 552-66.
Crystal CS, Blankenship RB. Local anesthetics and peripheral nerve blocks in the emergency department. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2005 May. 23(2):477-502. [Medline].
Trott AT. Wounds and Lacerations: Emergency Care and Closure. 2nd ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 1997.

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Infraorbital nerve.
Area of anesthesia for infraorbital nerve block.
Intraoral approach for infraorbital nerve block.
Technique for extraoral infraorbital nerve block.
Infraorbital nerve block, intraoral approach.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Karen M Byrne, MD Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Karen M Byrne, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Albert J Izzo, MD Attending Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center

Albert J Izzo, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Mary L Windle, PharmD Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Meda Raghavendra (Raghu), MD Associate Professor, Interventional Pain Management, Department of Anesthesiology, Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center

Meda Raghavendra (Raghu), MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Anesthesiologists, American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Luis M Lovato, MD Associate Clinical Professor, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine; Director of Critical Care, Department of Emergency Medicine, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center

Luis M Lovato, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Emergency Physicians, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Albert Izzo for his contributions to this article.

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author Michelle Marie Davitt, MD, to the development and writing of this article.