A comparison of neurosensory alteration and recovery pattern among different types of orthognathic surgeries using the current perception threshold.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare postsurgical neurosensory alteration and recovery patterns among different nerve fiber types and orthognathic surgeries by measuring current perception thresholds (CPT). STUDY DESIGN: CPTs of 186 patients who underwent various orthognathic surgeries (Le Fort I or II, bilateral sagittal split [BSSRO] or intraoral vertico-sagittal [IVSRO] ramus osteotomy with or without genioplasty) were measured at 2000, 250, and 5 Hz, assessing 3 different nerve fiber types before surgery and at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: CPTs were highest at 3 months postsurgery and gradually returned to presurgical levels until 12 months postsurgery in most cases. CPT at 2000 Hz showed the largest amount of increase. Le Fort I and IVSRO caused less neurosensory alteration compared with Le Fort II and BSSRO, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our data provide nerve recovery patterns following various orthognathic surgeries that may be applied to evaluating the patient's severity and recovery of nerve damage.