Removal of a fractured needle during inferior alveolar nerve block: two case reports

In the cases reported here, the fractured needle fragments were removed following an inferior alveolar nerve block. Since needle breakages most commonly occur in the pterygomandibular space, caution is always advised because of the existence of vital structures, including nerves and blood vessels.

Augello et al. [1] reviewed the literature over 50 years and reported that 70% of needle breakage events occur in the pterygomandibular space. This highlighted the need to pay careful attention during the administration of inferior alveolar nerve block.

In the two cases reported here, the needle breakages occurred with 30-gauge needles. Augello et al. [1] also reported that 68% of cases of needle breakages following the administration of inferior alveolar nerve block were associated with the use of a 30-gauge needle.

Augello et al. [1] reported that 76% of dentists use a 30-gauge needle, because of the perception that the use of a thinner needle is associated with less pain. However, it is generally known that pain is not associated with the diameter of needles. Fuller et al. [3] and Mollen et al. [4] reported that although there are individual differences in pain, there were no significant differences in the perception of pain with the use of 25-, 27-, and 30-gauge needles. However, most private clinics and university hospitals do not stock various sized needles. Currently, we have three needle sizes, i.e., the 27-gauge 21 mm, 27-gauge 32 mm, and 30-gauge 21 mm, thus, using a 30-gauge needle requires extreme care.

In addition, thinner needles are prone to cause more pain because the pressure applied on the syringe is much greater with a small gauge needle [5], so it is advisable to use of a 27-gauge 21 mm needle, instead of a 30-gauge 21 mm needle, for young patients who have a low pain threshold.

Blum et al. [6] reported 100 cases of needle breakage that occurred during the 14 years, from 1914–1928. Since then, the incidence of needle breakage has decreased owing to the development of stainless and flexible alloys, and the use of disposable dental needles. However, many cases of needle fractures have been continued to be constantly reported since 2000 [1]. Recently, Kim and Moon [7] reported the removal of a needle fracture fragment using three-dimensional computed tomography (3-D CT); Lee et al. [8] reported the removal of broken needle via a microscopic approach. Lee et al. [9] also reported the removal of broken needles following the administration of inferior alveolar nerve block to a pediatric patient. Although it is a rare event, if a needle fracture occurs, every effort should be made to remove the needle fragment as soon as the breakage occurs. It is important to detect the exact location of the fracture needle to effectively retrieve it. The surgeon must be familiar with the anatomical structures to accurately locate the fragment using 3D-CT. The use of a metal detector to effectively detect and remove the fragments of a foreign body located in the oral cavity has been previously reported [2]. In 2008, Nezafati and Shahi [5] reported the retrieval of a broken needle using a mobile digital C-arm. Further, in Korea, a case where a small C-shaped dental instrument was used to remove the fractured needles during inferior alveolar nerve block anesthesia was also introduced [10]. In the second case in this report, although a C-arm was used in the orthodontic surgery, it was difficult to use at the same time as the surgery as it was large. Thompson et al. [11] located the fractured needles with an image intensifier using two 19-gauge venipuncture needles. Further, recently, Lee and Zaid [12] reported the removal of the fragment using surgical navigation after locating the needle.

However, even with the use of various methods to locate the position of the broken needle, the surgeon had to remove the tissue using surgery, while being directly guided visually. As mentioned above, first, the anatomical structures must be well-recognized. Then, a wide field of view must be illuminated using a bright luminous source, such as a headlight. Thereafter, homeostasis must be properly established, before the fractured segment can be finally found with blunt dissection.

The causes of broken needles are the unanticipated movement of the patient, the bending of the tip of the needle before usage, or a defect in a needle. The prevention of needle breakage is, however, crucial. The use of a long needle when possible, the use of a 27-gauge needle (rather than a 30-gauge needle), and refraining from changing the direction of the needle after inserting it, is recommended for conduction anesthesia. Additionally, bending the tip of needle before usage is also recommended. A part of the needle should always be visible to the surgeon during the procedure.

It should also be noted that young patients can move abruptly and unexpectedly, so the use of a mouth gag is advisable to avoid sudden mouth closure during the administration of inferior alveolar nerve block anesthesia. If a fracture should occur, secondary complications can be prevented by promptly sending the patient to a better-equipped hospital, to avoid the movement of fragments deeper into the tissue.