nerve repair for oral and maxillofacial surgeons
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons may encounter nerve deficits with a myriad of causes, including dentoalveolar surgery and tumor resection.1,2 Some patients may recover over time, while others have varying degrees of permanent impairment.3 Fortunately, there are surgical solutions available to address these and other related injuries.
Trigeminal nerve injuries stemming from trauma, dentoalveolar procedures, or oncological resection significantly impact patient quality of life, both physically and emotionally. Simple everyday activities like eating, drinking or brushing teeth can become a challenge. Even worse, these nerve injuries have been shown to significantly affect patients’ ability to enjoy social contact, ability to eat and enjoy food, and ability to maintain an emotional state without irritability.4
Your skills can help restore nerve function for your patients.
acting fast
When it comes to nerve injuries, early intervention is key. One study showed a high rate of success for trigeminal nerve microsurgery, especially when the nerve was repaired in 90 days or less from the date of injury.5
restoring sensory function
Maxillofacial reconstruction procedures, such as mandibulectomy, require the resection of hard and soft tissue, including nerve tissue, leading to loss of neurosensory function. Immediate reconstruction of sensory nerves at the time of hard and soft tissue ablation has been shown to lead to functional sensory recovery.1,6,7
valuing quality of life
Patients with permanent lingual or inferior alveolar (IAN) nerve deficits reported less life satisfaction and more symptoms of depression than those with normal nerve function.8 Nerve repair helps restore function after damage and is a vital part of providing the best possible outcome for your patients.
adds minimal surgical time
With advance planning, sensory restoration can be integrated into the surgical plan—even for patients who may undergo treatment with radiation9—and adds minimal time once it becomes part of the surgical routine.
≥86%
functional recovery
Peer-reviewed clinical evidence has demonstrated that at least 86% of study participants achieved functional sensory recovery after trigeminal nerve repair with Axogen’s portfolio.1,5-7,10-12
Functional sensory recovery was defined as grades S3, S3+ and S4 on the Medical Research Council Scale (MRCS).
100K+
nerve repairs
Over 100,000 Avance® Nerve Graft repairs worldwide since 2007, with no reported implant-related adverse events.13
Not sure when to refer? This article will help you understand when to refer a patient with a nerve injury to a specialist.
Read article 
resources
IAN repair via buccal decortication access
IAN reconstruction in a segmental mandible resection via mandibular foramen access
IAN reconstruction in a segmental mandible resection via buccal decortication access
The 90-day window: trigeminal nerve injuries and the importance of prompt referral
life-changing experiences
more procedures
Learn more about other common procedures performed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons.
There’s only a short form between you and our nerve product team who can help you get more information about our nerve repair solutions.
references
- Zuniga J, et al. A case-and-control, multi-site, positive controlled, prospective study of the safety and effectiveness of immediate inferior alveolar nerve processed nerve allograft reconstruction with ablation of the mandible for benign pathology. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. Dec 2017;75(12):2669-2681.
- Schiavone M, Ziccardi VB. Trigeminal nerve injuries in oral and maxillofacial surgery: a literature review. Front Oral Maxillofac Med. 2021;3:28-28. doi:https://doi.org/10.21037/fomm-21-26
- Sarikov R, Juodzbalys G. Inferior alveolar nerve injury after mandibular third molar extraction: a literature review. J Oral Maxillofac Res. 2014;5(4):e1. Published 2014 Dec 29. doi:10.5037/jomr.2014.5401
- Patel N, et al. Quality of life following injury to the inferior dental or lingual nerve – a cross-sectional mixed-methods study. Oral Surg. 2018;11:9-16. https://doi.org/10.1111/ors.12259
- Zuniga J. Sensory outcomes after reconstruction of lingual and inferior alveolar nerve discontinuities using processed nerve allograft—A case series. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. Apr 2015;73(4):734-44.
- Salomon D, et al. Outcomes of immediate allograft reconstruction of long-span defects of the inferior alveolar nerve. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. Dec 2016;74(12):2507-2514.
- Miloro M, et al. Does immediate inferior alveolar nerve allograft reconstruction result in functional sensory recovery in pediatric patients? J Oral Maxillofac Surg. Nov 2020;78(11):2073-2079.
- Leung YY, et al. Trigeminal neurosensory deficit and patient reported outcome measures: the effect on life satisfaction and depression symptoms. PLoS One. 2013;8(10):e77391.
- Kaplan J, et al. Sensory outcomes for inferior alveolar nerve reconstruction with allograft following free fibula mandible reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2023;152(3):499e-506e. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000010286
- Yampolsky A, et al. Efficacy of acellular nerve allografts in trigeminal nerve reconstruction. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. Oct 2017;75(10):2230-2234.
- Ducic I, et al. Reconstructive options for inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injuries after dental and oral surgery: an evidence-based review. Ann Plast Surg. Jun 2019;82(6):653-660.
- Morgan SD, et al. Nerve grafting in head and neck reconstruction. Facial Plast Surg. Dec. 2020;36(06):737-745.
- Data on file.