FREQUENCY OF INJURY TO LINGUAL NERVE & INFERIOR ALVEOLAR NERVE IN CASE OF MANDIBULAR 3RD MOLAR IMPACTION

Abstract

Objective: The main objective of the study is to determine the frequency of injury to lingual nerve & inferior alveolar nerve in case of mandibular 3rd molar impaction. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in Bakhtawar Amin Dental Hospital, Multan, during July 2018 to December 2018 with the permission of ethical committee of hospital. A total of 100 mandibular extractions were performed with the age range from 15-80. 25 patients were males and 75 were females. The predictor variables for the study were age, gender, level of impaction(soft tissue, partial bony or total bony) ,type of buccal flap raised (in surgical extractions), lingual flap retraction and protection, surgeon’s experience (specialists, residents, house officers or students) and the tooth side (right or left) in relation to the handednessof the operator (R/L). The outcome variable was the presence of postoperative lingual neurosensory deficit and inferior alveolar nerve deficit. Results: Out of 100 patients, six patients were diagnosed with lingual nerve paraesthesia on 1st and 7th postoperative day evaluation. The overall incidence rate of lingual nerve injury was 6%. One patient with paraesthesia was lost from the study after approximately 3 months of observation due to geographical relocation but this patient had definite sign of return of sensation when he was lost from study. Conclusion: It is concluded that the risk of lingual nerve paraesthesia is higher than inferior alveolar nerve paraesthesia post operatively after third molar extractions.