Analysis of trigeminal nerve disorders after oral and maxillofacial intervention.
BACKGROUND
Quantitative sensory testing (QST) is applied to evaluate somatosensory nerve fiber function in the spinal system. This study uses QST in patients with sensory dysfunctions after oral and maxillofacial surgery.


METHODS
Orofacial sensory functions were investigated by psychophysical means in 60 volunteers (30 patients with sensory disturbances and 30 control subjects) in innervation areas of the infraorbital, mental and lingual nerves. The patients were tested 1 week, 4 weeks, 7 weeks and 10 weeks following oral and maxillofacial surgery.


RESULTS
QST monitored somatosensory deficits and recovery of trigeminal nerve functions in all patients. Significant differences (p < 0.05) between control group and patients were shown for cold, warm and mechanical detection thresholds and for cold, heat and mechanical pain thresholds. Additionally, QST monitored recovery of nerve functions in all patients.


CONCLUSIONS
QST can be applied for non-invasive assessment of sensory nerve function (Aβ-, Aδ- and C-fiber) in the orofacial region and is useful in the diagnosis of trigeminal nerve disorders in patients.
Yekta
Sareh Said
SS
Department of Conservative Dentistry, Periodontology and Preventive Dentistry, Aachen University, Germany. ssaidyekta@izkf.rwth-aachen.de
Koch
Felix
F
Grosjean
Maurice B
MB
Esteves-Oliveira
Marcella
M
Stein
Jamal M
JM
Ghassemi
Alireza
A
Riediger
Dieter
D
Lampert
Friedrich
F
Smeets
Ralf
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods*; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017288:Pain Threshold; D020127:Recovery of Function; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D020886:Somatosensory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D013697:Thermosensing; D020433:Trigeminal Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D014732:Vibration