title: Quantitative sensory testing in patients with or without ongoing pain one year after orthognathic surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To (1) quantitatively investigate the possible long-term surgical impact of orthognathic surgery on the patients' trigeminal somatosensory functions and (2) investigate the influence of ongoing pain on the trigeminal somatosensory functions of the patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of patients before orthognathic surgery (Pre-op), a group of patients 1 year after orthognathic surgery (Post-op), and a group of control participants (Control) were recruited (n = 28 in each group). A standardized quantitative sensory testing protocol was followed to record a battery of 13 parameters, which reflect both sensory loss and gain. The data were analyzed using three-way repeated measure analysis of variance with group and pain as between-subject factors and testing site as within-subject factor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the Post-op group, of the 21.4% patients who reported ongoing pain after surgery, 7.1% were diagnosed with neuropathic pain and 14.3% had musculoskeletal pain. Facial cold detection threshold (CDT) of the Post-op group was significantly lower (less sensitive) than that of the Pre-op group (P < .039). Facial pressure pain threshold (PPT) of the Post-op group was significantly lower (more sensitive) than that of the Pre-op and Control groups (P < .006). Masseter PPT of the Postop group was significantly lower than that of the Control group (P = .02). The facial vibration detection threshold (VDT) of the Post-op group was significantly higher (less sensitive) than that of the Pre-op and Control groups (P < .014). Pain patients in the Post-op group showed significantly elevated VDT compared to patients without pain (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pattern of sensory alteration in orthognathic surgical patients with or without pain was characterized by sensory loss in thermal parameters and non-nociceptive mechanosensory parameters and sensory gain in nociceptive mechanosensory parameters. The elevated VDT might be a potential indicator of the impact of postoperative pain on trigeminal somatosensory functions.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.forename: Janek Dalsgaard
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Bjarne
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Neuman
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arendt-Nielsen
authors.forename: Kelun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008406:Masseter Muscle / Q000503:physiopathology; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000502:physiology; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000502:physiology; D056948:Orthognathic Surgical Procedures; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000145:classification*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D020886:Somatosensory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D013697:Thermosensing / Q000502:physiology; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis; D014732:Vibration; D055815:Young Adult