The need for injection of an anaesthetic agent into a primary division of the trigeminal nerve arises when a patient requires temporary pain relief or diagnostic assessment for facial pain—often from trigeminal neuralgia or surgical planning—necessitating a nerve block with a local anaesthetic to numb a specific facial region served by the nerve’s main branches (ophthalmic, maxillary, or mandibular). This procedure is indicated for acute pain management or testing, critical in the maxillofacial region where trigeminal nerve irritation affects facial sensation and comfort.
Specific conditions driving this need include:
For instance, a patient with stabbing maxillary pain from trigeminal neuralgia might receive an injection into the maxillary division for relief, performed outpatient. In an aged care context, an elderly patient with facial pain could benefit from this to manage symptoms temporarily, given their frailty and medication sensitivities. By injecting an anaesthetic, this service provides rapid pain relief, aids diagnosis, and enhances patient comfort, making it a practical and immediate solution within the maxillofacial framework.
Provides rapid facial pain relief, aids diagnosis, and improves comfort temporarily.
Recovery of a few hours with temporary numbness; minimal downtime typically outpatient.
