FREQUENCY AND PATTERN OF PRESENTATION OF MENTAL NERVE INJURIES AFTER OPEN REDUCTION AND INTERNAL FIXATION OF PARASYMPHASIS FRACTURES

Abstract

The fractures of the anterior mandible are common and include parasymphysis fractures that often can be treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) to ensure proper bony alignment, stability and functional recovery. The mental nerve is closely related to the parasymphatisch area and is a serious complication after surgery. The patient may experience numbness, tingling, altered sensation, pain or complete sensory disturbance of the mental nerve, which may affect his/her comfort and quality of life. Knowing the frequency and presentation pattern of these injuries are crucial to improving surgery outcomes and minimising postoperative complications. This study aims to find the incidence and type of mental nerve injury following open reduction and internal fixation of parasymphysis fracture. The study also evaluates the clinical features, sensory abnormalities, and risk factors for mental nerve impairment after surgery. This descriptive observational study is carried out on patients with a diagnosis of the parasymphysis fracture and undergoing open reduction and internal fixation. A clinical neurosensory examination is used as a method of postoperative assessment of mental nerve function. Demographic data, fracture pattern, surgical procedure and postsurgical sensory changes are gathered and analyzed. Assessment of frequency, type and presentation pattern of mental nerve injuries including associated contributing factors. The study defines the incidence of mental nerve injury after ORIF for parasymphysis fractures and notes the typical patterns of sensory deficits. The results indicate the correlation between the clinical and surgical factors and the postoperative mental nerve disturbance. Mental nerve injury is an important complication associated with surgical treatment of parasymphysis fractures. To optimize patient management and reduce sensory complications post-transplant, proper assessment of nerve function and identification of risk factors is crucial. The present study offers valuable insight into the frequency and pattern of mental nerve injuries after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) surgery.