Extraocular muscle regeneration in primates. Local anesthetic-induced lesions.

Retrobulbar administration of several local anesthetics (0.75% bupivacaine, 2.0% mepivacaine or 2.0% lidocaine plus 1:100,000 epinephrine) in monkeys resulted in a low incidence of muscle fiber lesions in the extraocular muscles closest to the site of injection. Most lesions resulted in the degeneration and regeneration of muscle fibers on the surface of the muscles, but occasionally a massive internal lesion was seen. In contrast, large lesions were common in rectus muscles that received direct injections of local anesthetics in both monkeys and humans. The morphology and temporal sequence of muscle fiber degeneration and regeneration was similar to that seen in primate thumb muscles injured by anesthetic agents.