Sensitive nerve function measurement in facial trauma: An observational study

Edson-Luiz Cetira-Filho; Fábio-Wildson-Gurgel Costa; Saulo-Ellery Santos; Manoel-de Jesus-Rodrigues Mello; Paulo-Goberlânio-de Barros Silva; Andréa-Silvia-Walter de Aguiar

doi:10.4317/jced.56830

Sensitive nerve function measurement in facial trauma: An observational study

J Clin Exp Dent. 2021 Jan 1;13(1):e14-e21. doi: 10.4317/jced.56830. eCollection 2021 Jan.

Authors

Edson-Luiz Cetira-Filho¹, Fábio-Wildson-Gurgel Costa², Saulo-Ellery Santos³, Manoel-de Jesus-Rodrigues Mello⁴, Paulo-Goberlânio-de Barros Silva⁵, Andréa-Silvia-Walter de Aguiar⁶

Affiliations

¹ DDS,OMS, MSc student. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon and master's in science student in Federal University of Ceará (UFC). Professor of Mauricio de Nassau University (UNINASSAU), Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
² DDS, OMS, MSc, PhD. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, MSc, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Dentistry, UFC, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
³ DDS, OMS, MSc, PhD. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, MSc, PhD, Associate Professor, Division of Oral Surgery, UNIFOR, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
⁴ DDS, OMS, MSc, PhD. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, MSc, PhD. Professor of UNICHRISTUS, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
⁵ DDS, Oral Pathologist, MSc, PhD. Professor of UNICHRISTUS, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
⁶ DDS, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, MSc, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Dentistry, UFC, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.

Abstract

Background: Facial trauma is responsible for various types of health damage and may be functional or aesthetic. Depending on the degree of energy released in this type of trauma, sometimes an irreversibility degree is obtained. This study aimed to perform an objective evaluation of traumatic peripheral nerve injuries resulting from mandibular fractures and midface, using silicon monofilaments.

Material and methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional study. All patients with maxillofacial fractures, who were hospitalized by the department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of Instituto Dr. José Frota Hospital, were randomly recruited and screened for inclusion in the present study. Sixty patients, victims of automobile accidents or firearms, were evaluated using Semmes Weinstein monofilaments in the regions corresponding to the mental and infraorbital nerves, right and left.

Results: The highest frequencies mandibular nerve changes were those that there was a loss protective sensation, but in which, the patient can feel deep pressure and pain; In which the worst sensory alterations occurred in patients' victims of firearm. In the middle third of the face, the worst alterations were those that there was a loss of the protective and discriminating sensation for hot and cold.

Conclusions: The use of monofilaments is a support tool in oral and maxillofacial traumatology for the diagnosis and monitoring of peripheral sensory alterations. Key words:Peripheral nerve injuries, facial trauma, wounds and injuries, accidents, traffic, violence.