Effects of stellate ganglion block on postoperative trigeminal neuropathy after dental surgery: a propensity score matching analysis

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of stellate ganglion block (SGB) on postoperative trigeminal neuropathy (TNP) after dental surgery. This was a retrospective study based on the medical records of all patients with postoperative TNP at Kyushu Dental University Hospital from 2014 to 2019. Patients were divided into the SGB group (received SGB) and non-SGB group (did not receive SGB). We evaluated the severity of TNP at 3 months after surgery and the incidence rate of abnormal sensations. Abnormal sensations were counted using patients’ reports of uncomfortable symptoms during the treatment, including dysaesthesia, allodynia, and hyperalgesia. A propensity score (PS) matching analysis was performed to evaluate these data. After PS matching, amongst others, the force equivalent values of the Semmes–Weinstein test at 3-months post-treatment were significantly lower in the SGB group than in the non-SGB group (2.00 ± 0.44 vs 2.30 ± 0.48; p < 0.05). In addition, after PS matching, the incidence rate of abnormal sensations during the treatment was significantly lower in the SGB group than in the non-SGB group (10 cases [4.7%] vs 22 cases [10.3%]; p < 0.05). Collectively, the findings support that SGB may improve the recovery from postoperative TNP and reduce the incidence rate of abnormal sensations after dental surgery.