Ultrasound-guided injection of the maxillary nerve in the horse.
Authors: O'Neill H D, Garcia-Pereira F L, Mohankumar P S
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Ultrasound-Guided Injection of the Maxillary Nerve in the Horse Blocking the equine maxillary nerve is clinically valuable for diagnostic nerve blocks and surgical procedures affecting the rostral face, yet conventional landmark-based techniques carry inherent risks due to the nerve's deep location and proximity to critical vascular and orbital structures. O'Neill and colleagues evaluated ultrasound guidance as a method to improve accuracy and safety of maxillary nerve infiltration, moving away from traditional palpation-dependent approaches that rely on surface anatomy. While specific efficacy metrics depend on the full results, ultrasound-guided techniques substantially enhance visualisation of the target nerve and surrounding tissues, enabling practitioners to identify and avoid vital structures during needle placement. For equine practitioners—particularly those performing regional anaesthesia or diagnostic blocks on the head—adopting ultrasound guidance for maxillary nerve blocks reduces the risk of complications such as haematoma, globe trauma, or retrobulbar injection. This work supports integration of ultrasonography into standing head procedures where anatomical consistency cannot be guaranteed by palpation alone.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Ultrasound guidance reduces risk of vascular and orbital complications when performing maxillary nerve blocks in practice
- •This technique is useful for both diagnostic anesthesia and surgical procedures requiring maxillary nerve desensitization
- •Consider adopting ultrasound-guided approach if performing frequent maxillary nerve blocks or in cases where anatomical variation exists
Key Findings
- •Ultrasound-guided injection technique improves accuracy of maxillary nerve infiltration compared to landmark-based approaches
- •Deep location and proximity to vascular and orbital structures creates risk of complications with traditional injection methods