EC Dental Science

Introduction: Injuries to the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) and lingual nerve (LN) are relatively common complications during oral surgery procedures. These injuries can result in temporary or permanent sensory disturbances in the regions innervated by these nerves, significantly affecting patients ‘quality of life’.

Objective: The aim of our study is to investigate the incidence rate of IAN and LN lesions in the oral surgery department of the CCTD Ibn Rochd in Casablanca.

Materials and Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study of patients who underwent surgical procedures on the mandibular arch, at the oral surgery department of the CCTD Ibn Rochd in Casablanca from November 15, 2022 to February 15, 2023. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software.

Results: Our population is made up of 60 patients, 65% of whom are women, 41.6% aged between 21 and 29, and 80% in good general condition. In terms of surgical procedures, 3MM extraction accounted for 91.6% of all procedures performed, cyst enucleation (5%), implant placement (1.7%) and benign tumor surgery (1.7%). 66.7% of these procedures were performed by a doctor specializing in oral surgery. Panoramic radiography was carried out in 100% of cases, while cone beam was performed in 15%. Regarding nerve lesions, no LN lesions were found in our study. Injury to the IAN was observed in 2 patients, one female and one male, following cyst enucleation. The common symptom between these two patients was numbness of the labiomental region on the operated side. The incidence of IAN lesions was 3.3% in our study. A statistically significant correlation (P < 0.001) was observed between the presence of IAN lesions and the age of the patients, as well as with the surgeon performing the procedure.

Conclusion: A thorough understanding of the incidence of IAN and LN lesions in oral surgery is essential to improving the quality of patient care. By accurately identifying the prevalence, nature and risk factors of these lesions, practitioners can design more effective screening strategies and more appropriate treatment plans. This approach leads to optimal therapeutic results and an overall improvement in the quality of care.

Keywords: Postoperative Sensitivity; Inferior Alveolar Nerve; Lingual Nerve; Iatrogenic Nerve Injuries

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