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Published in: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 4/2017

01-12-2017 | Original Article

Surgical treatment of painful inferior alveolar nerve injuries following endodontic treatment: a consecutive case series of seven patients

Authors: Federico Biglioli, Otilija Kutanovaite, Luca Autelitano, Alessandro Lozza, Laura Moneghini, Gaetano Bulfamante, Fabiana Allevi

Published in: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | Issue 4/2017

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Abstract

Purpose

Injuries of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) related to endodontic treatment are being increasingly reported. However, consensus on the preferred intervention and the timing of and indications for surgical treatment is lacking. Here, we describe our experience with painful IAN injuries arising from endodontic treatment and requiring prompt microsurgical treatment.

Methods

Seven consecutive patients with painful IAN injuries were referred to the Maxillofacial Surgery Unit of San Paolo Hospital in Milan. All patients had undergone root canals endodontic treatment in the mandibular molar or premolar between 2007 and 2014. The time elapsed between injury and referral for surgical treatment ranged from 10 days to 20 months. Each patient was treated by one of several different microsurgical procedures, described herein.

Results

Overall, neurosensory status and IAN-related pain improved in all seven patients. The best results were obtained by IAN replacement with a sural nerve graft. However, complete sensory recovery was not achieved in any of the patients.

Conclusions

Although our sample includes only seven patients, early surgical treatment with an interpositional sural nerve graft seems to allow neurosensory recovery. Less satisfactory results are achieved in patients with IAN injuries of > 12 months duration.
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Metadata
Title
Surgical treatment of painful inferior alveolar nerve injuries following endodontic treatment: a consecutive case series of seven patients
Authors
Federico Biglioli
Otilija Kutanovaite
Luca Autelitano
Alessandro Lozza
Laura Moneghini
Gaetano Bulfamante
Fabiana Allevi
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery / Issue 4/2017
Print ISSN: 1865-1550
Electronic ISSN: 1865-1569
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10006-017-0656-8

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