GORE-TEX TUBING AS A CONDUIT FOR REPAIR OF LINGUAL AND INFERIOR ALVEOLAR NERVE CONTINUITY DEFECTS - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT

Purpose: This report describes the results of using a Gore-Tex (Gore C ompany, Flagstaff, AZ) tube as a conduit for repair of continuity defe cts in the inferior alveolar or lingual nerves, Patients and Methods: Seven nerve repairs were performed in five patients (M:F = 1:4) with a n age range of 16 to 56 years. The duration from injury to repair rang ed from 4 to 30 months. Two inferior alveolar and five lingual nerves were repaired. Results: All seven patients had anesthesia by objective testing preoperatively and had a continuity defect at the time of ope ration. The size of the defects ranged from 2 to 15 mm. Two of the sev en patients had some return of sensation, occurring in defects of 3 mm or smaller. Conclusion: The results of this pilot study indicate that Gore-Tex tubing may not be effective in the repair of continuity defe cts except in those defects 3 mm or smaller, in which it may act: as a protective barrier membrane rather than as a conduit.