Evaluation of Post-Traumatic Neurosensory Recovery Following Mandibular Fracture Fixation

Abstract

Background:

 Mandibular fractures are among the most common maxillofacial injuries and are frequently associated with inferior alveolar nerve dysfunction, resulting in varying degrees of neurosensory impairment. Timely surgical management aims not only to restore mandibular continuity but also to facilitate recovery of sensory function.

Aim:

To evaluate the pattern of neurosensory recovery following surgical fixation of mandibular fractures over a six-month follow-up period.

Materials and Methods:

A prospective observational study was conducted on 30 patients with mandibular fractures requiring open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). Demographic characteristics, fracture etiology, anatomical site, side involved, fixation method, interval from trauma to surgery, associated injuries, and baseline neurosensory status were recorded. Neurosensory assessment included two-point discrimination, light touch sensation, pin-prick sensation, brush direction discrimination, and thermal sensation. Evaluations were performed preoperatively and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), Version 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the findings, while Chi-square tests were applied to compare neurosensory outcomes across different follow-up intervals. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The majority of patients was males (80.0%) and belonged to the 31–40-year age group (36.7%). Road traffic accidents were the leading cause of mandibular fractures (60.0%), with the parasymphysis (33.3%) and angle (26.7%) being the most frequently affected sites. Mild baseline neurosensory deficit was observed in 40.0% of patients. Progressive improvement was demonstrated in all neurosensory parameters during follow-up. Normal two-point discrimination increased from 26.7% at baseline to 90.0% at 6 months, while normal light touch and pin-prick sensation each improved to 93.3%. Brush direction discrimination and thermal sensation reached normal values in 96.7% of patients by the final follow-up. Overall complete neurosensory recovery increased from 20.0% at 1 month to 83.3% at 6 months, with corresponding reductions in partial and absent recovery. These improvements were highly statistically significant (p <0.001).

Conclusion: Surgical fixation of mandibular fractures resulted in substantial and progressive restoration of neurosensory function over six months. Most patients achieved complete sensory recovery by the end of the follow-up period, highlighting the effectiveness of appropriate fracture management and emphasizing the importance of regular postoperative neurosensory evaluation for monitoring functional recovery.