title: [Inferior alveolar nerve reconstruction after segmental resection of the mandible].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The sacrifice of inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) is usual in case of resection of mandibular tumors and is responsible for disabling sensory disorders, drooling and lip incompetence. We report the case of a reconstruction of the IAN by means of an autologous nerve graft after segmental resection of the mandible.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 27-year-old man presented with a recurrence of mandibular ameloblastoma. Treatment consisted in segmental mandibulectomy with resection of the IAN. Bone reconstruction was performed with a fibula free flap and IAN reconstruction was obtained by mean of a 7-cm nerve graft obtained from the greater auricular nerve (GAN). At the 6th postoperative month, the patient had recovered a normal sensitivity of his lower lip and chin. Latency of somatosensory evoked potentials was similar for both sides.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The repair of the IAN by nerve autograft is a simple procedure that allows for good sensitive rehabilitation. The use of the GAN is well suited from its anatomy and from the moderate ear sensory sequelae.
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie maxillo-faciale et plastique de la face, CHU Trousseau, avenue de la République, 37170 Chambray-lès-Tours, France; Service de plastique reconstructrice et esthétique, CHU Trousseau, avenue de la République, 37170 Chambray-lès-Tours, France. Electronic address: taraquois.romuald@hotmail.fr.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Taraquois
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie maxillo-faciale et plastique de la face, CHU Trousseau, avenue de la République, 37170 Chambray-lès-Tours, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Joly
authors.affiliation: Service de plastique reconstructrice et esthétique, CHU Trousseau, avenue de la République, 37170 Chambray-lès-Tours, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sallot
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie maxillo-faciale et plastique de la face, CHU Trousseau, avenue de la République, 37170 Chambray-lès-Tours, France.
authors.forename: J-D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kün Darbois
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie maxillo-faciale et plastique de la face, CHU Trousseau, avenue de la République, 37170 Chambray-lès-Tours, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Laure
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie maxillo-faciale et plastique de la face, CHU Trousseau, avenue de la République, 37170 Chambray-lès-Tours, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paré
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000601:surgery*; D063175:Mandibular Reconstruction
keywords: Inferior alveolar nerve; Nerf alvéolaire inférieur; Potentiels évoqués somesthésiques; Reconstruction; Somatosensory evoked potentials