Quantitative determination of thermosensitivity after mandibular sagittal split osteotomy

Background: To determine the temperature-and pain thresholds of patients (n=20) who had undergone mandibular sagittal split osteotomy (MSSO), we developed a specific thermal probe to evaluate the neurosensory disturbances of the inferior alveolar nerve under prospective study conditions. Methods: Measurements were performed prior to surgery and postoperatively up to 6 months. Thermal probe test results were compared to the results of the usual two-point discrimination test and the sharp/blunt test. Furthermore we took the subjective neurosensory perception of each patient into account. Results: With focus on our newly developed thermal probe and under comparison with the preoperative results, the postoperative neurosensory tests revealed increased thresholds of up to 12.7 degrees C. Between 3 and 6 months postoperatively, quantitative resensitization could be evaluated. In contrast, the usual testing methods were not accurate enough to give valuable significant data within 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Our evaluation could also show that after 6 months thermal thresholds were up 1.5 degrees C as compared with the preoperative status. Conclusion: Base on our data we conclude that the newly developed thermal probe is accurate to determine neurosensory disturbances of the alveolar inferior nerve after sagittal split osteotomy. As compared with the more common testing methods, an advantage of our contemporary measurement device is the quantitative analysis of nerval function.