Inferior alveolar nerve reconstruction with interpositional sural nerve graft: a sensible addition to one-stage mandibular reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: This study was to evaluate the sensory recovery in the lower lip and chin in patients who underwent segmental mandibulectomy involving inferior alveolar nerve and simultaneous reconstruction with fibular osteoseptocutaneous flap and interposition sural nerve graft.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: From 1993 to 2004, a total of 20 patients underwent segmental mandibulectomy, simultaneous fibula osteoseptocutaneous flap reconstruction and interpositional sural nerve graft. Twelve patients were available for the study. There were seven male and five female patients with average age of 35.8 years (16-52 years). The sense at the lower lip and chin was measured by two-point discrimination both at the operated and non-operated side at an average of 64.3 months (12-146 months).

RESULT: The operated side revealed an average of 13.7 mm for static (STPD) and 13.3 mm for moving two-point discrimination (MTPD) at the lower lip and 13.7 mm for static and 13.4 mm for MTPD at the chin. Data from the non-operated side averaged 3.4 mm for static and 3.2 mm for MTPD at lower lip and 5.1 mm for static and 4.5 mm for moving discrimination at the chin. All patients recovered better than protective sensation on the operated side, which was sufficient to prevent self-mutilation, preserve comprehensible speech and maintain oral competence. No patient complained of significant donor site morbidity.

CONCLUSION: Simultaneous reconstruction of a segmental mandibulectomy involving inferior alveolar nerve with a fibula osteoseptocutaneous flap and interpositional sural nerve graft offers simultaneous replacement of mandibular architecture and restoration of protective perioral sensation.