Neurosensory changes after liquid nitrogen cryotherapy.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The study goal was to evaluate neurosensory changes after liquid nitrogen cryotherapy in the management of mandibular lesions in close proximity to the inferior alveolar nerve.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

The design of the study was a retrospective review. Sixteen patients with posterior mandibular lesions (15 odontogenic keratocysts and 1 fibromyxoma) in close proximity to the inferior alveolar nerve were treated with a standardized enucleation and cryotherapy technique. Postoperative evaluation included patients report of symptoms and formal neurosensory testing.

RESULTS:

All patients had altered sensation in the distribution of the inferior alveolar nerve immediately after cryotherapy. Two patients experienced anesthesia, and the remaining 14 patients showed paresthesia. The average time for return or improvement in sensation was 91 days (range, 6 to 235 days). The average time of follow-up was 2.6 years (range, 0.5 to 7.3 years). At the time of last follow-up, no patients had anesthesia or dysesthesia. Four patients had full return of sensation and 12 patients had paresthesia. No patients reported significant difficulty from abnormal nerve function. All 16 patients experienced some return of sensation; 9 patients had full or near full return of sensation.

CONCLUSIONS:

Based on these results, the combination of enucleation and liquid nitrogen cryotherapy produces minimal alteration of inferior alveolar nerve function.

• Authors: Brian L Schmidt, M A Pogrel
• Journal: Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery : official journal of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (J Oral Maxillofac Surg) Vol. 62 Issue 10 Pg. 1183-7 (Oct 2004) ISSN: 0278-2391 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15452802 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Nitrogen

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Cranial Nerve Injuries (etiology)
• Cryosurgery (adverse effects)
• Female
• Fibroma (surgery)
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Male
• Mandibular Diseases (surgery)
• Mandibular Neoplasms (surgery)
• Middle Aged
• Nitrogen (therapeutic use)
• Odontogenic Cysts (surgery)
• Paresthesia (etiology)
• Postoperative Complications (etiology)
• Retrospective Studies
• Sensation Disorders (etiology)
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Time Factors
• Trigeminal Nerve Injuries