title: Electrophysiological evaluation of nerve function in inferior alveolar nerve injury: relationship between nerve action potentials and histomorphometric observations.
abstract: The objective of this study was to improve the accuracy of diagnosis of inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injury by determining degrees of nerve disturbance using the sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV). Crush and partial and complete nerve amputation injuries were applied to the IAN of rabbits, then SNAPs and histomorphometric observations were recorded at 1, 5, and 10 weeks. For crush injury, most nerves were smaller in diameter at 5 weeks than at 1 week, however after 10 weeks, extensive nerve regeneration was observed. The SNAP showed a decrease in SCV at weeks 1 and 5, followed by an increase at week 10. For partial nerve amputation, small to medium-sized nerve fibres were observed at weeks 1 and 5, then larger nerves were seen at week 10. Minimal changes in SCV were observed at weeks 1 and 5, however SCV increased at week 10. For complete nerve amputation, nerve fibres were sparse at week 1, but gradual nerve regeneration was observed at weeks 5 and 10. SNAPs were detectable from week 10, however the SCV was extremely low. This study showed SCV to be an effective factor in the evaluation of nerve injury and regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: murayamamasato@tdc.ac.jp.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murayama
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan; Sasaki Dentistry - Oral and Maxillofacial Care Clinic, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shibahara
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004566:Electrodes; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009431:Neural Conduction; D011817:Rabbits; D061221:Trigeminal Nerve Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: action potential (SNAP); conduction velocity (SCV); inferior alveolar nerve injury; nerve injury