PAINFUL DYSESTHESIA FOLLOWED AFTER IMPLANT PLACEMENT IN POSTERIOR MANDIBLE AND THEIR PROGNOSIS

Kim, Myung Rae; Lee, Won Ho; Choi, Chang Woo; Chung, Hyun Ju

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study is to examine the painful dysesthesia of lip & gingiva followed after implant surgeries and to evaluate the prognosis of microsurgical epineurotomy & tubulization with e-PTFE tubes. METHOD: Three patients who had been suffered from painful anesthesia and dysesthesia following dental implant surgeries were examined periodically and followed for over 1 year after epineurotomy and e-PTFE tubulization. Neurosensory dysfunctions were examined by Static Light Touch Threshold, Moving Direction Discrimination. Two Point Discrimination, Pin-Prick Nociception. Visual Analog Scales and Tinel sign. The subjective symptoms were confirmed by SSEP and DITI prior to surgical exploration. RESULT: Two patients complained of continuous tearing and lancinating pain disclosed complete avulsion of IAN and degenerative changes with neuroma. One patient complained of mild painful dysesthesia revealed partial adhesion & fibrous epineural changes. Two patients whose IAN were explored after over 1 year resulted in only mild improvement in sensory recovery and moderate reduction of pain score. While the patient to whom decompression & epineural repair were given in 3 months after nerve injuries resulted in satisfactory improvement in sensory function and pain reduction.
CONCLUSION
Painful dysesthesias occurred after implant placement were resulted from neurotmesis and disclosed degenerative neuropathy. Therefore, the micro-surgical explorations and repairs (epineurotomy, decompression neurolysis, and neurorrhaphy) can be recommended for known injuries as early as possible. For the delayed painful dysesthesia lasted over year, however, epineurotomy & tubulization could be an option to improve the painful discomfort but not satisfactory.