title: Neurosensory disturbance after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy: A retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To retrospectively evaluate neurosensory disturbance (NSD) after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was carried out to assess inferior alveolar nerve function in patients treated by BSSO from 2010 to 2013. All patients included in the study were assessed using objective (cotton swabs and pin prick testing) and subjective testing (questionnaire) for inferior alveolar nerve function after a minimum of 1 year of follow-up. Medical records of the patients were used to assess the incidence of NSD in the immediate post-operative period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  15 patients (30 sides) had undergone BSSO during the specified time period. On subjective testing, NSD was reported in 22 operated sides (73.3%) in the immediate post-operative period, while 4 operated sides (13.3%) reported persistent NSD. On objective testing, immediate post-operative NSD was seen in 20 operated sides (66.7%). After a minimum of 1 year follow-up, recovery was seen in 18 operated sides while persistent NSD was seen in 2 operated sides (6.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NSD of the inferior alveolar nerve is a common complication after BSSO in the immediate post-operative period. However in a long term, nerve function usually recovers.
authors.affiliation: Professor & Head, Department of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Shree Bankey Bihari Dental College, Masuri Canal, Ghaziabad UP India.
authors.forename: Sunanda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roychoudhury
authors.affiliation: Ex-Resident, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, CDER, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029 India.
authors.forename: Shakil Ahmed
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Nagori
authors.affiliation: Professor & Head, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, CDER, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029 India.
authors.forename: Ajoy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roychoudhury
keywords: Inferior alveolar nerve; Nerve injury; Osteotomy