Lingual nerve damage after third lower molar surgical extraction.
OBJECTIVE
Our objectives were to establish the incidence of lingual nerve damage after surgical removal of lower third molars, to identify the causes of the damage, and to construct a predictive model to assess the risk of lingual nerve injury.


METHODS
We conducted a nonrandomized prospective study of 946 consecutive outpatients subjected to surgical extraction of 1117 lower molars in a university department of oral surgery. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data were gathered, and causal factors of lingual nerve damage were identified by using nonparametric tests and Pearson chi-square and Fisher exact tests. A prediction of lingual nerve injury risk was obtained by using logistic regression.


RESULTS
Of the extractions, 2.0% caused temporary nerve damage, though no lesion lasted more than 13 weeks. Lingual flap retraction, vertical sectioning of the tooth, surgeon inexperience, lingual angulation of the tooth, and prolonged operating time significantly increased the risk of nerve damage (P <. 05). The first 3 factors were included in a predictive logistic regression model.


CONCLUSIONS
Anatomical factors such as lingual angulation of the third molar, surgical maneuvers such as retraction of the lingual flap or vertical tooth sectioning, and surgeon inexperience all increase the risk of lingual nerve damage, although permanent lesions seem to be very rare.
Valmaseda-Castellón
E
E
The University of Barcelona and Teknon Medical Center, Spain.
Berini-Aytés
L
L
Gay-Escoda
C
C
D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D061222:Lingual Nerve Injuries; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods