title: Anaesthesia of the inferior alveolar and lingual nerves following subcondylar fractures of the mandible.
abstract: A retrospective chart review of 387 patients with condylar and subcondylar fractures revealed 2 cases of inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) and lingual nerve (LN) anaesthesia following the subcondylar fracture. Only 5 cases have been reported previously. The mechanism of action remains unknown but a review of the literature and an analysis of 120 dry human skulls supported the hypothesis that compression of the mandibular nerve at a high level, close to the foramen ovale, could cause anaesthesia. This complication is rare, because it requires compression at a particular angle. The antero-median angulation of the condyle must be close to the foramen ovale, and the fracture must be a unilaterally displaced fracture. The presence of an enlarged lateral pterygoid plate appeared to enhance the risk of compression. The IAN and LN anaesthesia could be resolved after open reduction of the fracture and IAN and LN anaesthesia constitute a strict indication for an early open fracture reduction.
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Head: Dr. C. Politis), Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Campus St.-Jan, Genk, Belgium; Faculty of Medicine, Department of Morphology, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium. Electronic address: constantinus.politis@uhasselt.be.
authors: Constantinus
authors: C
authors: Politis
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Sun
authors: Bruno
authors: B
authors: De Peuter
authors: Marjan
authors: M
authors: Vandersteen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000150:complications; D008036:Lingual Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000293:injuries*; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000150:complications*; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000209:etiology; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020886:Somatosensory Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ATN; Complication; Compression; Entrapment; FN; IAN; Inferior alveolar nerve damage; LN; Lingual nerve; Subcondylar fracture; TMJ; auriculotemporal nerve; facial nerve; inferior alveolar nerve; lingual nerve; temporomandibular joint