title: Quantitative sensory tests before and 1(1/2) years after orthognathic surgery: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: Quality control is very important in relation to invasive and lengthy treatments, such as integrated orthodontic and surgical correction of dentofacial deformities. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare self-reported somatosensory disturbances and quantitative sensory testing (QST) findings between two groups of patients and a healthy control group (n = 24); one group (n = 21) scheduled for bimaxillary orthognathic surgery (BOS) (pre-op) and one group (n = 24) examined 1(1/2) years after BOS (post-op). Self-reported data on pain and somatosensory disturbances were collected, and QST was performed at six trigeminal and one extratrigeminal site. Sensitivity to brush stroke, tactile stimuli, pinprick, two-point-discrimination threshold (2P-DT), pinch pain threshold (PiPT) and pressure pain threshold (PPT) was evaluated. Results were analysed with anovas, Spearman's Correlation, and chi square tests. Eight per cent of post-op patients reported intra-oral, 46% extra-oral, and 46% no somatosensory disturbances. Sensitivity to brush stroke, pinprick and 2P-DT was significantly increased at all examination sites in the post-op patients compared with healthy controls (P < 0.002). Tactile thresholds and PPT did not differ between groups (P > 0.071). Pinch pain threshold were decreased in pre-op patients compared with controls (P < 0.040). Self-reported somatosensory disturbances were not correlated with QST findings. In conclusion; 1(1/2) years after BOS, a large proportion of patients reported somatosensory disturbances and was hypersensitive to mechanical stimuli when compared with pre-op patients and healthy controls. Pre-op patients showed minor somatosensory changes. In addition to patients serving as their own control in prospective studies, a healthy control group and extratrigeminal control sites should be included in future studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oral Physiology, School of Dentistry, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark. Lbhansen@odont.au.dk
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baad-Hansen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arima
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arendt-Nielsen
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Neumann-Jensen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Svensson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000294:innervation; D006261:Headache / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D056948:Orthognathic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011184:Postoperative Period; D057234:Preoperative Period; D011312:Pressure; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D020886:Somatosensory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*