Anatomical Basis of Maxillary Artery Trauma Associated With Gow-Gates Injection

Objectives: This study goal is to observe anatomical variability of the inferior alveolar nerve and maxillary artery in human cadavers and to estimate the frequency of the inferior alveolar nerve and maxillary artery trauma associated with Gow-Gates injections.
Methods: Simulated standard Gow-Gates injections with 25 gauge needle were administrated in 31 hemi-mandibles from 22 fixed cadavers. The mandibles were dissected later to expose the location of the injecting needle in relation to the inferior alveolar nerve and maxillary artery. Measurement of the distance between the injecting needle and the inferior alveolar was taken. The distance between the tip of the injecting needle to the maxillary artery was measured as well. The measurements were equilibrated and tabulated using computerized software (Global Systems Science, Analyzing Digital Images) to be further analyzed.
Results: The average distance between the tip of the needle and the inferior alveolar nerve was 6.59 mm. On the other hand, the average distance between the tip of the needle and the maxillary artery was 0.49 mm. Trauma of the maxillary artery was seen in 48% of cases.
Conclusions: There is a high probability of the maxillary artery trauma associated with Gow-Gates technique used to anaesthetize the inferior alveolar nerve. However, none of the Gow-Gates injections caused injury to the inferior alveolar nerve.