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How Common Is It To Have Numbness Of Lower Lip And Chin After A Broken Jaw Surgery?
Question: How common is it to have numbness of the lower lip and chin after surgery to plate a broken jaw and how likely is this to recover please?
Brief Answer:
Numbness is not uncommon in mandible fractures.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing to XXXXXXX
It is not uncommon to see Sensory disturbances (Numbness in the nerve injured area) after a mandibular fracture. As per the literature, it is seen in nearly 40-50% of the cases.
Numbness results due to the injury to either inferior alveolar nerve or the mental nerve. This injury might have been caused at the time of injury (the fractured bone fragments injuring the nerve) or during the time of surgical procedure (iatrogenic, either by the plate or screws causing injury to the nerve).
If it is a simple concussion injury (neuropraxia) of the nerve, it is likely to improve with time. It may take around 6-8 months to recover spontaneously.
If the nerve is severed or transected (axonotmesis or Neurotmesis), the chances of recovery are very low.
The extent of the severity of the nerve damage can be assessed by Nerve conduction studies.
Hope I have addressed your query. Happy to help further
Regards
Numbness is not uncommon in mandible fractures.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing to XXXXXXX
It is not uncommon to see Sensory disturbances (Numbness in the nerve injured area) after a mandibular fracture. As per the literature, it is seen in nearly 40-50% of the cases.
Numbness results due to the injury to either inferior alveolar nerve or the mental nerve. This injury might have been caused at the time of injury (the fractured bone fragments injuring the nerve) or during the time of surgical procedure (iatrogenic, either by the plate or screws causing injury to the nerve).
If it is a simple concussion injury (neuropraxia) of the nerve, it is likely to improve with time. It may take around 6-8 months to recover spontaneously.
If the nerve is severed or transected (axonotmesis or Neurotmesis), the chances of recovery are very low.
The extent of the severity of the nerve damage can be assessed by Nerve conduction studies.
Hope I have addressed your query. Happy to help further
Regards
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Dr. K. Naga Ravi Prasad
Orthopaedic Surgeon, Joint Replacement
Practicing since :1996
Answered : 2148 Questions
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