title: A rare variation in the course of the inferior alveolar nerve.
abstract: Extra-canalicular variations of the inferior alveolar nerve are exceedingly rare and unreported. The authors report an unusual presentation of the inferior alveolar nerve perforating the ramus of the mandible with a very short intra-bony course and exiting laterally in a 20 year old indian female diagnosed with hemifacial microsomia. There was concomitant absence of the ipsilateral inferior alveolar canal and mental foramen. Variations in nerve architecture like these are of importance to clinicians who deal with surgery of the facial skeleton.
authors.affiliation: Cleft & Craniofacial Unit, Division of Oral & Maxillofacial surgery, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College, Alapakam Road, Maduravoyal, Chennai 600095, India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manikandhan
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Mathew
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Naveenkumar
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anantanarayanan
mesh_terms: D005146:Facial Asymmetry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008334:Mandible / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000294:innervation; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult