Biomaterial Database

Middle ear problems after a Gow-Gates injection. 2001

C D Brodsky, and J S Dower

University of Pacific School of Dentistry, 2155 Webster St., San Francisco, Calif. 94115-2333, USA.

BACKGROUND Knowledge of the potential adverse reactions to mandibular block anesthesia is important in the practice of dentistry. This article presents a complication in the middle ear not previously reported. METHODS Unusual middle ear symptoms immediately followed the administration of 1.8 milliliters of 3 percent mepivacaine for a Gow-Gates mandibular block injection. Over the course of 10 days, the patient had complaints of inner ear pressure, inability to equilibrate ear pressure, decreased hearing, pain and severe headache before returning to normal without further complaints and complications. CONCLUSIONS The cause of the complications was either a hematoma, a technique problem causing trauma and inflammation, an anatomical variation or any combination of these. CONCLUSIONS Proper technique, knowledge of the anatomy of the injection area and familiarity with potential complications are important in the administration of local anesthetic.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008340	Mandibular Nerve	A branch of the trigeminal (5th cranial) nerve. The mandibular nerve carries motor fibers to the muscles of mastication and sensory fibers to the teeth and gingivae, the face in the region of the mandible, and parts of the dura.	Alveolar Nerve, Inferior,Auriculotemporal Nerve,Buccal Nerve,Deep Temporal Nerve,Lateral Pterygoid Nerve,Masseteric Nerve,Mental Nerve,Mylohyoid Nerve,Auriculotemporal Nerves,Buccal Nerves,Deep Temporal Nerves,Inferior Alveolar Nerve,Inferior Alveolar Nerves,Lateral Pterygoid Nerves,Mandibular Nerves,Masseteric Nerves,Mental Nerves,Mylohyoid Nerves,Nerve, Auriculotemporal,Nerve, Buccal,Nerve, Deep Temporal,Nerve, Inferior Alveolar,Nerve, Lateral Pterygoid,Nerve, Mandibular,Nerve, Masseteric,Nerve, Mental,Nerve, Mylohyoid,Pterygoid Nerve, Lateral,Pterygoid Nerves, Lateral,Temporal Nerve, Deep,Temporal Nerves, Deep
D008438	Maxillary Artery	A branch of the external carotid artery which distributes to the deep structures of the face (internal maxillary) and to the side of the face and nose (external maxillary).	Arteries, Maxillary,Artery, Maxillary,Maxillary Arteries
D009407	Nerve Block	Interruption of NEURAL CONDUCTION in peripheral nerves or nerve trunks by the injection of a local anesthetic agent (e.g., LIDOCAINE; PHENOL; BOTULINUM TOXINS) to manage or treat pain.	Chemical Neurolysis,Chemodenervation,Nerve Blockade,Block, Nerve,Blockade, Nerve,Blockades, Nerve,Blocks, Nerve,Chemical Neurolyses,Chemodenervations,Nerve Blockades,Nerve Blocks,Neurolyses, Chemical,Neurolysis, Chemical
D004432	Ear, Middle	The space and structures directly internal to the TYMPANIC MEMBRANE and external to the inner ear (LABYRINTH). Its major components include the AUDITORY OSSICLES and the EUSTACHIAN TUBE that connects the cavity of middle ear (tympanic cavity) to the upper part of the throat.	Tympanic Cavity,Tympanum,Middle Ear,Cavities, Tympanic,Cavity, Tympanic,Ears, Middle,Middle Ears,Tympanic Cavities,Tympanums
D004433	Earache	Pain in the ear.	Otalgia,Earaches,Otalgias
D006406	Hematoma	A collection of blood outside the BLOOD VESSELS. Hematoma can be localized in an organ, space, or tissue.	Hematomas
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D000766	Anesthesia, Dental	A range of methods used to reduce pain and anxiety during dental procedures.	Dental Anesthesia