| JNDA Vol. 25 No. 2 Issue 41 (July- December 2025) | |
Focal Epistaxis After an Infraorbital Nerve Block: A Rare Case Report and Literature Review |
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| Surendra Kumar Acharya | |
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| Abstract | |
The infraorbital nerve block is a widely used regional anaesthesia technique for maxillary dental procedures. Although generally safe, its proximity to the infraorbital vascular plexus and nasal cavity means that unusual complications such as epistaxis may occasionally occur. A 45-year-old female developed brief pinpoint bleeding from the left nostril immediately after administration of a left infraorbital nerve block for the extraction of tooth 25. The bleeding resolved spontaneously within a minute without intervention. The extraction proceeded. The patient was monitored postoperatively. No further symptoms were observed during the procedure and at one-week follow-up. Transient epistaxis following infraorbital nerve block, while rare, is anatomically plausible due to the thin bony boundaries of the infraorbital canal and its vascular communications with the nasal cavity. Literature examining midfacial anatomy and anaesthesia techniques documents how variations in canal morphology, vascular networks, and injection dynamics may contribute to such bleeding. These episodes are typically benign, self-limiting, and require only observation and reassurance. Clinicians should recognize that minor nasal bleeding can occur following an infraorbital nerve block. Awareness of anatomical variations and careful injection technique remain essential to minimizing risk and ensuring appropriate patient management. |
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| Keywords | |
| Epistaxis; infraorbital nerve block; local anaesthesia complications; maxillary anaesthesia; midfacial anatomy. | |