Oral Health and Maxillofacial Research

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) is one of the most important structures in maxillofacial region. Sensation abnormalities arise at the innervation point of the inferior alveolar nerve, which is often affected when a mandibular fracture occurs at the angle area. As a result of nerve injury, disturbances in sensitivity of the skin, mucous membrane and teeth occur. Patients feel discomfort, paraesthesia, sometimes even pain in its area of innervation. This illness impairs a person's psycho-emotional state and limits their ability to work. Long-term neurosensory function is negatively impacted by the extent of displacement caused by mandibular angle fractures.

Objective: The study's goal was to ascertain the general prevalence and degree of inferior alveolar nerve damage in patients who had mandibular angle fractures.

Study design: Descriptive, cross sectional.

Setting: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial surgery, Khyber College of Dentistry Peshawar.

Duration of study with dates: Six months from 18th September, 2015 to 20th December, 2016.

Materials and methods: A detailed history was taken from them followed by radiographic examination using Orthopantomograph (OPG) to assess the presenceof angle fracture and degree of displacement of proximal and distal segments. The displacement was as un-displaced, l-3mm displacement, 3 to 6mm displacement and 6 to 9mm displacement confirmed on the basis of separation of tramlines on OPG. Displacement greater than 9mm was excluded from study. Inferior alveolar nerve injury was assessed clinically using neurosensory testing.

Results: This study comprised 264 patients who had fractures of the mandibular angle. Male were more than female patients. Male patients were 222(84.1%) while female patients were 42(15.9%). The patients were between the ages of 17 and 50. It was 29.06±7.7604 years old on average. Of total sample 71% had inferior alveolar nerve injury. Duration of angle fracture was ranged from 10 to 68 hours. Mean duration of fractures was 39.38±13.351hours.

Conclusion: Patients having mandibular angle fracture had a prevalence of 71%. Patients presented after trauma by 10 to 68 hours Patients who had displaced angle fracture had more IAN injury than non-displaced side. Least Inferior alveolar nerve injury was in age group 15-20 years may due to elastic bone Male have more IAN injury than female.

KEYWORDS

1. Inferior alveolar nerve injury
2. Mandibular angle fracture
3. Displacement of segments