RESTORATION OF LOWER-LIP SENSATION - NEUROTIZATION OF THE MENTAL NERVE WITH THE SUPRACLAVICULAR NERVE

Trigeminal nerve palsy resulting from cerebrovascular accidents can re sult in significant disability for patients. Loss of lip and chin sens ation may involve lip biting, impaired speech, and diminished salivary retention. Neurotization of the mental nerve with the supraclavicular nerve can restore sensibility to the lower lip for patients with cent ral dysfunction of the trigeminal nerve. The authors report a case des cribing this procedure and document recovery of sensation with quantit ative sensory testing. This recovered sensation came from the ipsilate ral inferior alveolar nerve and not the contralateral mental nerve, as demonstrated by nerve block. An algorithm outlining the treatment opt ions in the management of trigeminal nerve palsy is also presented.