International journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery
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Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg · Aug 2002
Mandibular nerve block at the oval foramen using reliable landmarks: refinement of a previously described procedure.
The aim of this study was to improve the injection technique when blocking the mandibular nerve at the oval foramen by using consistent landmarks. The lower lateral orbital angle (LLOA) and the junction of the external acoustic canal and the mastoid process (AM) proved to be reliable landmarks. Distances between landmarks for the localization of the puncture point (PP), cranial indices as well as the angle of the injection needle to the sagittal plane were calculated on 22 human dried skulls. ⋯ The angle of the injection needle to the sagittal plane was 71.86 degrees. No correlation was found between the cranial index and the angulation of the needle or the distances for the localization of the PP. From this study a modified puncture technique was developed.
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Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg · Aug 2002
Case ReportsIntraoperative ultrasound imaging to aid abscess drainage--a technical note.
Diagnostic ultrasound is used widely to identify the presence of fluid collections preoperatively. Although its role in other parts of the body is well established, this report describes the technique of using diagnostic ultrasound intraoperatively to aid drainage of a large fascial space abscess in the head and neck. ⋯ Furthermore, ultrasound demonstrated the adequacy of drainage and helped the surgeon to position the drain in the correct tissue space. We consider that intraoperative use of ultrasound has a role as a guidance tool to drain superficial fascial space abscesses in the head and neck region.