Dentistry

Abstract

Surgical Therapy for Pure Trigeminal Motor Neuropathy Accompanied by Limited Mouth Opening: A Retrospective Study

Ying Chai, Wenbin Wei, Minjie Chen, Chi Yang, Weijie Zhang and Xiaohu Zhang

Purpose: This study aims to find out if there is any new manifestation of pure trigeminal motor neuropathy and evaluated the long-term results of surgery for its treatment.

Patients and methods: The present study includes 10 patients referred from December 2003 to June 2014. The clinical manifestation investigations were recorded and 3 patients with limited mouth-opening were operated. The longterm follow-up result was performed.

Results: Among 10 patients, 6 suffered from limited mouth opening, the other 4 jaw deviation. Among patients who had difficulty in mouth-opening, 3 patients chose surgery to improve the situation, the others just follow-up. At the final follow-up, the average maximum mouth opening of operated patients totally increased by 180%. For non-operated patients, no obvious improvement of mouth opening was observed.

Conclusion: Limitation on mouth-opening is another manifestation of pure trigeminal motor neuropathy and surgery can effetely improve the situation.