• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.183-189
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• 2021

Objectives: To assess the prevalence and recovery of inferior alveolar nerve dysfunction (IAND) in mandibular fractures. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective cohort study. Clinical neurosensory testing was done preoperatively and the IAND was categorized as mild, moderate or severe. Postoperatively, neurosensory testing was repeated at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and every 3 months thereafter. Results: A total of 257 patients with 420 fractures were included in the study with a mean age of 31.7 years. Body fractures (95.9%) had the highest incidence of IAND, followed by the angle fractures (90.1%) and symphysis fractures (27.6%). The condyle and coronoid fractures did not have any IAND and hence were excluded from further study. After eliminating those cases, 232 patients remained in the study with 293 fractures. The overall prevalence of IAND in fractures occurring distal to the mandibular foramen was 56.3%. The changes until 1 week were minimal. From 1 month to 6 months, there was a significant reduction in the severity of IAND. A significant number of cases (60.0%) were lost to follow-up between 6 and 9 months. At 6 months, 23.9% of cases still had some form of IAND and 95.0% of the symphysis, 59.0% of the angle and 34.8% of the body fractures with IAND had become normal. Conclusion: This study documents the reduction in the degree of severity of IAND in the first six months and provides the basis for future studies with longer periods of follow-up.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.339-344
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to evaluate neurosensory disturbance associated with implant surgery performed by implant practitioner (n=47) composed of trained oral surgeon, periodontist, prosthodontist. The incidence, type and duration of sensory disorder were investigated. Anatomical factor of the patient and experience of operator were also evaluated. The result revealed high incidence of inferior alveolar nerve damage (45%) regardless of experience of implant practitioner. The sensory disturbance sustained within 6 months for 61% of cases, which revealed almost normal recovery of nerve function. Initial neurologic sign after nerve damage was not coincide with their consequence of recovery. Half of the practitioners tried surgical intervention to the implants such as removing the fixture, partial unscrewing or re-implant shorter fixture, of which trial regarded as effective measure for 53% of cases. The result indicates that the objective method of sensory nerve evaluation should be introduced to the implant practitioners and the importance of informed consent for possibility of nerve damage in mandibular implant fixation.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.120-126
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• 2000

Microsurgical reconstruction of the hand demands recovery of the sensation of the reconstructed free flap as well as microsurgeon's intelligence, technique and experience. Even with adequate soft tissue coverage and skeletal mobility, an insensate hand is prone to further injury and is unlikely to be useful to the patients. Authors have performed 8 cases of neurosensory free flaps in the hand, 4 cases of wrap around, 3 dorsalis pedis and 1 lateral arm flap, from July 1992 through June 1999 and followed up average 4 years and 4 months. Wrap around flap was performed for reconstruction of 4 cases of thumb, repairing deep peroneal nerve and superficial radial nerve by epineurial neurorrhaphy, and followed up for average 3 years and 10 months and calculated 9mm in the static 2 point discrimination test. Dorsalis pedis flap were 3 cases for reconstruction of the ray amputation, extensor tendon exposure and wrist exposure. Deep peroneal nerve and branch of the ulnar nerve was repaired by epineurial neurorrhaphy calculating 6mm and superficial peroneal nerve and superficial radial nerve averaging 18mm in the static 2 point discrimination test for follow up average 2 years and 9 months. Lateral arm flap was 1 case for reconstruction of the ray amputation in the hand repairing posterior cutaneous nerve to the arm to the superficial radial nerve calculating 20mm for follow up 6 years and 8 months.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.233-240
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• 2019

Trigeminal nerve injury as a consequence of lower third molar surgery is a notorious complication and may affect the patient in long term. Inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) and lingual nerve (LN) injury result in different degree of neurosensory deficit and also other neurological symptoms. The long term effects may include persistent sensory loss, chronic pain and depression. It is crucial to understand the pathophysiology of the nerve injury from lower third molar surgery. Surgery remains the most promising treatment in moderate-to-severe nerve injuries. There are limitations in the current treatment methods and full recovery is not commonly achievable. It is better to prevent nerve injury than to treat with unpredictable results. Coronectomy has been proved to be effective in reducing IAN injury and carries minimal long-term morbidity. New technologies, like the roles of erythropoietin and stem cell therapy, are being investigated for neuroprotection and neural regeneration. Breakthroughs in basic and translational research are required to improve the clinical outcomes of the current treatment modalities of third molar surgery-related nerve injury.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.43-47
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• 2011

Purpose: Sensory impairment in infraorbital nerve is common symptom following mid-facial fractures. The purpose of this study is to document the incidence of sensory impairment in infraorbital nerve following midfacial fractures and its recovery. Methods: Three hundreds fourteen patients with midfacial fracture were included involving emergence areas of infraorbital nerve. Fractures were classified into zygoma fracture, maxilla fracture, complex comminuted fracture and pure blow out fracture. Neurosensory function was assessed with clinical symptoms and light touch test in infraorbital nerve regions. Patients were followed and sensory function was evaluated immediately, 1, 3 and 6 months after trauma. Results: The total series consisted of 198 zygoma fractures, 19 maxilla fractures, 30 complex comminuted fractures and 67 pure blow out fractures. The incidence of sensory impairment was 60% (63% in zygoma fractures, 84% in maxilla fractures, 93% in complex comminuted fractures, 31% in pure blow out fractures). Persistent sensory impairments were remained in 32% (33% in zygoma fractures, 47% in maxilla fractures, 73% in complex comminuted fractures, 6% in pure blow out fractures) 6 months after trauma. Younger patients had better prognosis than older patients in recovery of infraorbital nerve function ($p$ <0.05, $x^2$-test). Mean recovery time was 11 weeks. Conclusion: The incidence of post-traumatic sensory impairment was different according to fracture types. Age of patients and fracture type were important factors that influence to recovery of sensory impairment. Complex comminuted fracture had poor prognosis, and pure blow out fractures had better prognosis than other fractures.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2017

Background: Low back pain is a frequent condition that results in substantial disability and causes admission of patients to neurosurgery clinics. To evaluate and present the therapeutic outcomes in lumbar disc hernia (LDH) patients treated by means of a conservative approach, consisting of bed rest and medical therapy. Methods: This retrospective cohort was carried out in the neurosurgery departments of hospitals in KahramanmaraŞ city and 23 patients diagnosed with LDH at the levels of L3-L4, L4-L5 or L5-S1 were enrolled. Results: The average age was $38.4{\pm}8.0$ and the chief complaint was low back pain and sciatica radiating to one or both lower extremities. Conservative treatment was administered. Neurological examination findings, durations of treatment and intervals until symptomatic recovery were recorded. $Las{\grave{e}}gue$ tests and neurosensory examination revealed that mild neurological deficits existed in 16 of our patients. Previously, 5 patients had received physiotherapy and 7 patients had been on medical treatment. The number of patients with LDH at the level of L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1 were 1, 13, and 9, respectively. All patients reported that they had benefit from medical treatment and bed rest, and radiologic improvement was observed simultaneously on MRI scans. The average duration until symptomatic recovery and/or regression of LDH symptoms was $13.6{\pm}5.4$ months (range: 5-22). Conclusions: It should be kept in mind that lumbar disc hernias could regress with medical treatment and rest without surgery, and there should be an awareness that these patients could recover radiologically. This condition must be taken into account during decision making for surgical intervention in LDH patients devoid of indications for emergent surgery.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 2010

The bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy (BSSRO) is preferred method of surgical correction for mandibular prognathism, retrognathism and asymmetry. This technique performed from primarily an intraoral incision to avoid a scar. After forward movement of the distal segment of the mandible, healing of bone by primary or secondary intention is easily accomplished through large areas of cancellous bony overlap. When rigid fixation is used for the BSSRO, it is possible to open the mouth during the immediate post-operative period because it promotes the healing process. Although this surgical procedure has been well-documented, the incidence of postoperative trigeminal neurosensory disorder in the region of the inferior alveolar nerve and the mental nerve remains one of the major complication. However, evaluation of objective methods for sensory recovery patterns is insufficient although most patients find their sensory return. Neurometer electrodiagnostic device performs automated neuroselective sensory nerve conduction threshold evaluation by determining current perception threshold (CPT) measures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensory recovery patterns of inferior alveolar and mental nerve over time. Nerve examination with a neurometer was performed in 30 patients undergoing the BSSRO at pre-operative, post-operative 1-, 2-, 4- week, and 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- month follow-up visits after the osteotomy to compare the differences of nerve injury and recovery patterns after the BSSRO with or without genioplasty and sensory recovery patterns associated with the kind of nerve fiber.

• Korean Journal of Cleft Lip And Palate
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2001

The design of osteotomy plane in orthognathic surgery has been developed to diminish the nerve injury. Intraoral Vertico-Sagittal Ramus Osteotomy (IVSRO) is the one of the best way to minimize untoward results, which is designed not to expose the lingula. We evaluated the nerve damage before and after with current perception threshold (CPT) test which is modem and numerically expressible way of nerve damages. Sixty patients underwent IVSRO since 1998 were evaluated. They were divided into 2 groups; one group underwent IVSRO only, and the other underwent IVSRO plus genioplasty. The both groups were evaluated with CPT test 1 week before surgery, and 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery. The CPT test was performed on A-beta, A-delta and C fiber respectively. 111e result showed that the recovery of sensory function of damaged nerve fibers was observed at the period of three to six months after surgery. There was no impairment of nerve function after only the IVSRO . But there were sensory disturbances in cases of additional genioplasty group. We thought that one of major factors on nerve damages were exposure of nerve and traction injury during genioplasty.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.223-227
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• 2019

Background: Neurosensory changes are frequently observed in the patients with mid-face fractures, and these symptoms are often caused by infraorbital nerve (ION) damage. Although ION damage is a relatively common phenomenon, there are no established and objective methods to evaluate it. The aim of this study was to test whether trigeminal somatosensory evoked potential (TSEP) could be used as a prognostic predictor of ION damage and TSEP testing was an objective method to evaluate ION injury. Methods: In this prospective TSEP study, 48 patients with unilateral mid-face fracture (only unilateral blow out fracture and unilateral zygomaticomaxillary fracture were included) and potential ION damages were enrolled. Both sides of the face were examined with TSEP and the non-traumatized side of the face was used as control. We calculated the latency difference between the affected and the unaffected sides. Results: Twenty-four patients recovered within 3 months, and 21 patients took more than 3 months to recover. The average latency difference between the affected side and unaffected side was 1.4 and 4.1 ms for the group that recovered within 3 months and the group that recovered after 3 months, respectively. Conclusion: Patients who suffered ION damage showed prolonged latency when examined using the TSEP test. TSEP is an effective tool for evaluation of nerve injury and predicting the recovery of patients with ION damage.