Work

Bilateral mental nerve block in lower lip laceration repair: A case report

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Peripheral nerve blocks have been proven to provide effective and safe analgesia in emergency settings and can prevent general anesthesia. This report describes the successful use of a bilateral mental nerve block employing a 1:1 mixture of 2 % lidocaine and 0.5 % isobaric bupivacaine in a 28-year-old male presenting with lower lip lacerations at a Regional Referral Hospital in southwestern Uganda. The extraoral technique achieved complete anesthesia, allowed precise wound repair, and enhanced patient comfort without complications. This case highlights the utility of regional anesthesia in emergency wound care for traumatic lip lacerations, minimizing the need for systemic analgesics and enhancing patient comfort. • First documented use of bilateral mental nerve block for lip laceration repair in rural Uganda, proving its feasibility in low-resource settings. • Superior to local infiltration, the mental nerve block provided complete analgesia without tissue distortion. • Safe for high-risk patients, including those unsuitable for general anaesthesia. • Reduces opioid reliance, offering effective non-narcotic analgesia for trauma care.

Source: International Journal of Surgery Case Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2025.111978

Authors: Osbert Arihaihi, Filimin Niyongabo, Lars Ingmar Veldhuis, Isabella Epiu

Institutions: Kabale University, Makerere University

Language: English

Topic: Anesthesia and Pain Management

Subfield: Surgery

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,090