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The aims of this study were threefold: (1) to describe iatrogenic lesions to oral branches of the trigeminal nerve, signs and symptoms, and functional status, (2) to report on a simple neurosensory examination method, and (3) to discuss means of prevention of iatrogenic injury. The etiology and functional status of 449 injuries to oral branches collected over 18 years were retrospectively reviewed. A simple scheme of a clinical neurosensory examination was applied to enable a quantified rating of the perception. Injury to the lingual nerve (n = 261) is not only the most prevalent type of lesion, it also seems to be the most devastating type of lesion. Third molar surgery (n = 319) counts for the majority of injuries to the lingual, inferior alveolar, and buccal nerves. Lesions related to the injection of local analgesics was the second most frequent etiology (n = 78), and the lingual nerve was affected more frequently and severely than other oral branches of the trigeminal nerve. The female gender was overrepresented in incidence of injured nerves but no difference was found in the severity of affection between females and males. All grades of loss of neurosensory functions were found, and a range of neurogenic malfunctions was reported. Methodological obstacles in clinical neurosensory examination of trigeminal nerve injury and the magnitude of neurosensory impairment are discussed. Many nerve injuries are avoidable by critical reevaluation of indications, increased awareness of potential hazards, and modified surgical procedures.

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–  The possible relation between treatment delay and healing complications in mandibular fracture treatment (excluding condylar fractures) was reviewed systematically. Twenty‐two studies were identified. No randomized studies focused on the effect of immediate or delayed treatment. The main focus of most studies was surgical repositioning and internal skeletal fixation. The healing complications analyzed in this study were infection in the fracture line and malocclusion. Statistical analysis of the influence of treatment delay upon healing complications was possible in six studies. Four studies showed no significant difference between immediate and delayed treatment. One study showed a preference for healing for cases treated within 3 days, whereas another study indicated that treatment time between 3 and 5 days were optimal with the lowest rate of complications. Finally, a few studies identified confounding factors such as alcohol, drug abuse and/or non‐compliance, factors which have been shown strongly to influence the likelihood of complications. A significant problem in this analysis was that rather few patients were actually treated on an acute basis (i.e. within 12 or 24 hours after injury), a fact which together with the lack of control of confounding factors made this analysis problematic. In conclusion, there is presently no strong evidence for either acute or delayed treatment of mandibular fractures in order to minimize healing complications; new studies including a substantial number of cases treated on an acute basis are very much needed.