Experiences in Lingual Nerve Repair Surgery

Objective: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of lingual nerve repair surgery in patients diagnosed with sensory impairment of the lingual nerve after impacted lower molar surgery treated at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tokyo Dental College, Japan.Patients and Methods: This prospective study reviewed the cases of 6 patients who were treated between 1998 and 2002. Of 6 patients, 3 underwent lingual nerve repair surgery. These patients were interviewed about their subjective symptoms with regard to their sensory perception, and were subjected to examinations of their sensory threshold values using a Semmes-Weinstein pressure anesthesiometer and taste perception using filter paper disk and whole-mouth methods.Results: Although patients whose lingual nerve had been divided showed almost no postsurgical taste recovery in the filter paper test, sensory perception was found to be on the way to recovery. Further, none of the patients showed deterioration in their condition as compared with their presurgical condition.Conclusion: In case of suspicion of lingual nerve severing or serious nerve injury, immediate nerve repair surgery is recommended.