title: A multivariate statistical analysis on variables affecting inferior alveolar nerve damage during third molar surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The risk factors associated with inferior alveolar nerve damage during third molar surgery were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surgeries performed during a period of 50 months by a single expert surgeon were reviewed. Only those surgeries that met the selected inclusion criteria were considered for this study. The following tests were applied for the statistical analysis: the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, the principal components analysis, the Mann-Whitney U test, the two-tailed exact Fisher test and the Bonferroni sequential correction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The surgical difficulty index, multi-rooted third molars and changes in the inferior alveolar nerve running in relation to the tooth roots are predictors of nerve damage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Computed tomography is mandatory when the nerve is superimposed on the tooth root on the ortopantomography. SCIENTIFIC RATIONALE FOR STUDY: Lower third molar extraction is one of the most common procedures in oral and maxillofacial surgery, and it is burdened by the risk of inferior alveolar nerve damage. Understanding which factors are able to predict this complication is therefore essential in correctly programming surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surgical difficulty index, multi-rooted third molars and changes in inferior alveolar nerve running in relation to the tooth roots are predictors of nerve damage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If, on the orthopantomography, the nerve is superimposed on the tooth root, a computed tomography is mandatory to define all of these variables.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Pippi
authors: 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Department of Odontostomatological and Maxillofacial Sciences, Via Caserta 6, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Santoro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008340:Mandibular Nerve; D008875:Middle Aged; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D061221:Trigeminal Nerve Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult