A retrospective analysis of lingual nerve sensory changes after mandibular bilateral sagittal split osteotomy.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the patient-reported incidence, duration, and perceived deficit in daily activities associated with lingual nerve (LN) sensory changes after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO) of the mandible and to compare them with inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) sensory changes in the same study population.


METHODS
Questionnaires were mailed to 316 patients who had undergone BSSO procedures between 1980 and 1993. The patients were queried for perceived sensory changes in the distribution of the IAN and LN; duration of these sensory changes; and alteration in daily activities caused by these sensory changes. The same questionnaire was mailed to 47 patients who had undergone isolated genioplasty (GP) to control for the normal variance of non-BSSO surgery on perceived LN sensory changes.


RESULTS
Forty-three percent of the BSSO patients and 38% of the GP patients returned the questionnaires. Within the BSSO group, 19.4% reported LN sensory changes, of which 69.3% reported that these changes resolved within 1 year; 88% reported altered daily activities. By comparison, 95.5% reported a perceived IAN sensory change, of which 27.3% reported that these changes resolved within 1 year; 57% reported altered daily activities. Within the GP control group, 11% reported LN sensory changes; none of the reported sensory changes lasted longer than 1 month.


CONCLUSIONS
A small percentage of patients report LN sensory changes after BSSO. When compared with IAN reported sensory changes, LN sensory changes resolve more frequently and sooner, but they are associated with greater perceived deficits in daily activity. The interpretation of the reported incidence of LN change must be critically reviewed because control subjects also responded positively.
Jacks
S C
SC
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 27599-7450, USA.
Zuniga
J R
JR
Turvey
T A
TA
Schalit
C
C
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002680:Chin / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008036:Lingual Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D061222:Lingual Nerve Injuries; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D061221:Trigeminal Nerve Injuries