Effect of infraorbital nerve block on postoperative pain and 30-day morbidity at the donor site in buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty

Background and Aims: Buccal mucosa harvest for substitution urethroplasty can be painful, and may be associated with long-term complications such as perioral numbness, persistent difficulty with mouth opening, and change in salivary function. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of infraorbital nerve block (IOB) in relieving postoperative pain at the donor site of the buccal mucosal graft (BMG) and its associated morbidity at 30 days. Material and Methods: Thirty adults scheduled for BMG urethroplasty were enrolled in this study and were randomized to receive either no block group I (control) and IOB group II intraorally with 1 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine. Pain was assessed by visual analog scale, intraoral morbidity, and patient satisfaction in the immediate postoperative period. All patients were reviewed after 1 month for morbidity such as perioral numbness, pain on mastication, and tightness on mouth opening. Statistical analysis was done using Mann-Whitney's U and Chi-square tests. Results: Median time to pain-free oral intake for liquids (group I: 2-5 days, group II: 1 day, P < 0.001) and solids (group I: 4 days, group II: 2 days, P < 0.001) was earlier in group II. At the follow-up after 1 month, one patient in group II and three patients in group I showed perioral numbness (P = 0.026), and five patients had pain on mastication in group I (P = 0.016). Conclusion: IOB is associated with postoperative analgesia and facilitation of early food intake, mitigating the morbidity of the donor site and provides satisfaction.