Trigeminal nerve injuries in relation to the local anaesthesia in mandibular injections

Objective This study reports the signs and symptoms that are the features of trigeminal nerve injuries caused by local anaesthesia (LA). Methods Thirty-three patients with nerve injury following LA were assessed. All data were analysed using the SPSS statistical programme and Microsoft Excel. Results Lingual nerve injury (LNI; n = 16) and inferior alveolar nerve injury (IANI; n = 17) patients were studied. LNI were more likely to be permanent. Neuropathy was demonstrable in all patients with varying degrees of paraesthesia, dysaesthesia (in the form of burning pain) allodynia and hyperalgesia. All injuries were unilateral. A significantly greater proportion of LNI patients (75%) had received multiple injections, in comparison to IANI patients (41%) (p