Comparison of ultrasound versus fluoroscopy-guided approaches to the maxillary nerve block (MNB)
| Strengths | Weaknesses | |
| Ultrasound-guided MNB | Ability to identify superficial neural and vascular structures and ability to plan needle trajectory Ability to redirect needle before contact with superficial vascular and neural tissue Ability to identify pterygopalatine fissure and lateral pterygoid muscle which are important landmarks for a successful block No radiation exposure | Inability to detect small blood vessels or intravascular injection deep in the fossa Inability to follow the needle tip once inside the fossa Inability to confirm distribution of injectate in the fossa More technically challenging Image quality affected by patient morphology |
| Fluoroscopy-guided MNB | Can rule out intravascular contrast spread Increased user familiarity | No real-time visualization of needle tip, injectate and surrounding structures Radiation exposure |