Does mandibular osteotomy affect the infraorbital nerve? a prospective study

Effectiveness of topical application with dexamethasone during sagittal split osteotomy of the mandible in minimising clinical symptoms of postoperative neurosensory disorders

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of topical application with dexamethasone during BSSO due to its anti-inflammatory effect and decreasing of postoperative nerve oedema in minimising clinical symptoms of NSD associated with inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injury in postoperative period, based on the results of sensory diagnostic tests, such as light touch test and its modifications.

METHODS

Through randomisation, 2 groups were selected from 22 patients: the experimental- where topical application with solution of dexamethasone phosphate 0.4% (4 mg/1 ml ampules) during sagittal split osteotomy of the mandible was used, and the control- where the classical technique of BSSO was held.

RESULTS

Authors performed diagnostics of NSD using Light Touch test on 1st day, 1st week, 1st month, 3rd month and 6th month postoperatively. The experimental group showed improvements in sensory recovery compared to the control group, particularly from 1 week to 3 months post-surgery. By 6 months, both groups achieved similar levels of sensitivity restoration.

CONCLUSIONS

This confirms the effectiveness of proposed method and opens up further prospects for the updated function of the IAN following the BSSO.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

Not applicable.

Three-dimensional evaluation of mandibular lingula: Comparisons of skeletal angle classifications and growth patterns

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the position of the mandibular lingula (ML) in adult patients (aged between 18 and 35 years old) with different skeletal and growth patterns using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

DESIGN

Cross-sectional.

SETTING

Dentistry department of University.

SUBJECTS

Subjects comprised CBCT images of 150 adult patients, including 300 rami.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

In total, 150 CBCT aged between 18 and 35 were selected and divided into three main groups of 50 samples based on their skeletal relationships (classes I, II and III). Patients were subdivided based on their growth pattern (vertical vs. horizontal), resulting in 25 samples per subgroup. Distances between the mandibular lingula and occlusal plane (ML-OP), sigmoid notch (ML-SN), external oblique ridge (ML-EOR), internal oblique ridge (ML-IOR), posterior border of the ramus (ML-PBR), inferior border of the ramus (ML-IBR), and horizontal and vertical distances to the mandibular foramen (ML-hMF and ML-vMF). One-way ANOVA variance analysis was employed to compare different angle classifications, and Bonferroni analysis was used for multiple comparisons. The Student's t-test was also used to compare growth patterns within each main group and genders within the subgroup.

RESULTS

The study revealed statistically significant differences in the position of the mandibular lingula between different angle classifications, growth patterns, and genders. Class II samples showed a more anterior position of the ML, whereas Class III samples displayed a more posterior position of the ML. Patients with horizontal growth patterns and Angle Class III had a more posteriorly positioned ML. Gender differences were observed, particularly in Class I and Class III classifications, suggesting that gender may influence the variability of ML position in these specific classifications.

CONCLUSION

The position of the mandibular lingula showed high variability among individuals with different angle classifications, growth patterns and genders.