Anatomical study: the potential movability of the inferior alveolar nerve

Abstract

Nerve repair and repositioning are procedures for treating and avoiding injury to the inferior alveolar nerve during oral and maxillofacial surgery. The present study aimed to examine how the mobility of the inferior alveolar neurovascular bundle (IAB) changes with or without removing the bone around the mental foramen (MF). Six fresh-frozen cadavers (11 sides) were dissected in this study. Osteotomy in the buccal cortical bone was performed from 5 mm posterior to the MF to the distal edge of the second molar with a high-speed drill and osteotome. Next, the distance from the lateral surface of the buccal cortical bone to the retracted IAB was measured with and without removing the bone around the MF. The distance from the lateral surface of the buccal cortical bone to the retracted IAB without removing the bone around the MF was 0 mm on all sides. After removing the bone, the mean distance changed by 4.71 ± 1.41 mm (range 2.83-7.90). There was no statistically significant difference between the right and left sides. The results of this study support removing the bone around the MF for increased mobility of the IAB.