Postprocedural inflammatory inferior alveolar neuropathy: an important differential diagnosis

Abstract

Lingual or inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injury after dental procedures may result from direct trauma or local anesthetic agent and presents with immediate onset of typically nonprogressive symptoms, including pain and sensory changes. We report a case of delayed-onset pain and progressive sensory symptoms after IAN block for amalgam restoration. A 54-year-old man presented with progressive right-sided facial pain 48 hours after IAN block for amalgam restoration, followed 1 week later by hypoesthesia and allodynia in IAN distribution. The presentation is more consistent with inflammatory neuropathy, as is well recognized in brachial plexopathy. Imaging was used to exclude local and central causes, following which the clinical diagnosis was made. Inflammatory neuropathies may be distinguished from iatrogenic causes on the basis of delayed symptom onset, early severe pain, and progressive sensory symptoms. Awareness of this condition is important, because early steroid therapy followed by medications for neuropathic pain may provide benefit.