Accidental injection of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) instead of an anaesthetic solution: a case report

Accidental Injection of EDTA Instead of Anesthesia Solution during Root Canal Treatment: Case Report

Background/Aim: Many irrigation solutions are used during root canal treatment. It is unacceptable to confuse irrigation solutions with anesthetic solution and inadvertently inject the patient. After such an error, local and systemic serious complications can be seen in the patient. The purpose of this case report is to show how careless use of etilendiamin tetraacedic acid (EDTA) can result in important complications, and offer some treatment methods for curing symptoms resulting from such complications.

Case Report: A 17% EDTA solution, was inadvertently injected in the buccal mucosa of a 20-year-old male during routine root canal treatment. Severe pain, bleeding and mucosal swelling occurred shortly after the injection. Irrigation with saline was performed by sliding the mucoperiosteal flap at the injection site. Then the flap was sutured primary. At the control one week later, there were no areas of necrosis in the patient, but ecchymosis occurred. Decalcified areas were not detected in dental volumetric tomography examination.

Conclusions: The dentists must apply the precautions of EDTA irrigation solution during the root canal treatment and manage the treatment of this clinical complication.