title: External neurolysis of the lingual nerve.
abstract: The lingual nerve is sometimes injured during the surgical removal of an impacted mandibular third molar. The level of sensory recovery was studied in 10 patients who underwent external neurolysis of the lingual nerve. The mean time from third molar surgery to neurolysis was 13.5 months (range 9-24 months). Seven of the 10 patients showed significant improvement, three patients regaining normal sensation. Three patients showed no improvement. These results show that external neurolysis should be considered for patients with altered sensation in the distribution of the lingual nerve.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Manchester Royal Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rood
mesh_terms: D020209:Cranial Nerve Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008036:Lingual Nerve / Q000601:surgery*; D061222:Lingual Nerve Injuries; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome