Relationship of the mandibular canal and fixation placement to sensory alteration following orthognathic surgery

Altered sensation is one common sequelae of orthognathic surgery involving the mandible. This pilot study was designed to assess the association of morphological and surgical factors related to mandibular canal location and post-surgical neurosensory alteration over 2 years as quantified by contact detection in patients having a BSSO. On both the right and left sides the average minimum distance from the lingual cortical plate to the inferior alveolar canal (IAC) was less than the distance from the IAC to the buccal cortical plate. The average distance from the surgical fixation screws to the IAC was approximately 1mm less on the left side. There were no consistent statistically significant correlations between the anatomical or surgical measured distances and the impairment in contact detection following orthognathic surgery. This methodology will allow for future in depth analysis of anatomical relationships and surgery related factors and their effects on sensory alterations following orthognathic surgery.