Mandibular nerve block treatment for trismus associated with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Abstract

We describe the use of mandibular nerve block for the management of bilateral trismus associated with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. The patient was a 65-year-old man with bilateral trismus due to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Despite his impaired consciousness, we performed fluoroscopically guided bilateral mandibular nerve block. The bilateral symptoms were sufficiently improved, without obvious side effects, by injecting a local anesthetic near the right mandibular nerve and a neurolytic near the left mandibular nerve. Mandibular nerve block may be an effective treatment for patients with bilateral trismus due to ischemic-encephalopathy, even when consciousness is impaired.