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

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.