Repair of the inferior alveolar nerve with a forearm cutaneous nerve graft after ablative surgery of the mandible.
OBJECTIVE
A method of autologous nerve grafting for repair of the inferior alveolar nerve after mandibular resection using a forearm cutaneous nerve is described.


METHODS
The lateral cutaneous nerve of forearm served as the donor nerve, and the graft was inserted microsurgically using an epineurial nerve suture technique in 6 subjects. Return of sensation in these 6 patients was measured by the use of Semmes-Weinstein method.


RESULTS
Sensibility of the lower lip and chin recovered after about 10 months in all 6 subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
The lateral branch of the forearm cutaneous nerve is a useful graft for repair of the inferior alveolar nerve after mandibular resection in which a forearm flap is used as part of the reconstruction.
Shibahara
T
T
First Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tokyo Dental College, Mihamaku, Chiba, Japan. sibahara@edc.ac.jp
Noma
H
H
Takasaki
Y
Y
Nomura
T
T
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005542:Forearm; D005881:Gingiva / Q000601:surgery; D005887:Gingival Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009060:Mouth Floor; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009417:Nerve Tissue / Q000637:transplantation*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome