title: Sensory nerve disturbance following Le Fort I osteotomy.
abstract: This study assessed sensory nerve disturbance after Le Fort I osteotomy using the electric pulp test, pin-prick sensation, fine touch, and cold sensation. After 6 months, 78% of teeth positive preoperatively to an electric pulp tester regained sensitivity. Return of palatal sensation was affected by whether or not the greater palatine nerve (GPN) was divided during surgery. After 6 months, where the GPN was intact, all patients had fine touch sensation (88% at the preoperative level), and all had pin-prick sensation (97% at preoperative level). When the GPN was divided, all patients had fine touch sensation (13% at preoperative level), and all had pin-prick sensation (63% at preoperative level). The differences in the return to preoperative sensation were significant for fine touch (P=0.0001++) and for pin-prick (P-0.03) by chi-square analysis. Sensation returned more quickly and more completely in the two cases where the contralateral GPN was intact. In the buccal mucosa, 95% of patients regained some fine touch sensation after 6 months, but none returned to the preoperative level. Similarly, 85% regained some pin-prick sensation, but none achieved preoperative levels. Cold sensation, pin-prick sensation, and fine touch on the face returned to the preoperative level in all patients by 6 weeks postoperatively.
authors.affiliation: Joint Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Eastman Dental and University College Hospitals, London, UK.
authors.forename: O F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Al-Din
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Coghlan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Magennis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000294:innervation; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005145:Face / Q000294:innervation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005881:Gingiva / Q000294:innervation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000294:innervation / Q000601:surgery*; D008442:Maxillary Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000294:innervation; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology*; D019340:Osteotomy, Le Fort / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D010159:Palate / Q000294:innervation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012677:Sensation; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation; D014110:Touch