title: Altered light-touch sensation after bilateral sagittal-split osteotomy: a prospective study of 50 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively evaluate the incidence of change in light-touch sensation in the innervated area of the lower alveolar nerve after bilateral sagittal-split osteotomy (BSSO) with attention on the time it takes to rebuild the function of the inferior alveolar nerve.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 30 women and 20 men with a mean age of 22.14 ± 3.30 years. The neurosensory test was conducted with a 20-mm long monofilament of suture material Prolene (3-0) connected to a plastic holder. These tests were performed 1 day before surgery and every 2 weeks during first 2 months after surgery. After that, patients were tested once every month until the end of the first year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients had a disturbance of light-touch sensation after BSSO, but none of these changes was permanent. The average duration of hypoesthesia was 6.6 ± 1.2 with a range from 4 to 9 months. The average duration of hypoesthesia for women was 6.27 ± 1.0 months, and men had hypoesthesia for 7.1 ± 1.2 months on average. This difference was statistically significant. The two oldest female patients, who were 33 and 37 years old at the time of the surgery, experienced altered sensitivity for only 4 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After BSSO, all patients experienced disturbed light-touch sensation in the innervated area of the lower alveolar nerve. A faster recovery in the oldest patients and a statistically significant difference between the sexes should be interpreted with caution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Dubrava, Zagrab, Croatia.
authors.forename: Davor
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jokić
authors.forename: Dražen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jokić
authors.forename: Vedran
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Uglešić
authors.forename: Predrag
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Knežević
authors.forename: Darko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Macan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D059229:Osteotomy, Sagittal Split Ramus / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*; D061221:Trigeminal Nerve Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult