Case Report
Transient extraocular muscle palsy following dental anaesthesia
Authors:
Jayshree Dhanji ,
Orthoptic Department, Royal Berkshire Hospital, London Road, Reading RG1 5AN, GB
About Jayshree
BMedSci (Orthoptics)
Deborah Lysons
Orthoptic Department, Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, GB
About Deborah
BSc DBO(T)
Abstract
Aim: To present 3 unusual cases of transient extraocular muscle palsy following local dental anaesthesia for fillings or extraction of the upper fifth, sixth and/or seventh molars.
Method: Three cases are reported that presented to the Orthoptic Department with extraocular muscle palsy which occurred immediately following local anaesthesia for dental treatment.
Results: Two patients subsequently fully recovered and one was left with a slight superior oblique weakness. The result in this last case is thought not to have been caused by the local dental anaesthesia hut by a longstanding weakness which seems to have been decompensated by the injection of the anaesthetic.
Conclusion: Transient muscle palsies linked to local dental anaesthesia may be common, but as they are so short-lived they do not present to the Orthoptic Department. Possible causes for the findings in these cases are discussed and the favoured aetiological hypothesis is stated.
How to Cite:
Dhanji, J. and Lysons, D., 2004. Transient extraocular muscle palsy following dental anaesthesia. British and Irish Orthoptic Journal, 1, pp.59–62. DOI: http://doi.org/10.22599/bioj.247
Published on
01 Jan 2004.
Peer Reviewed
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