LLLT Effects on Inferior Alveolar Nerve (IAN) Recovery Post-orthognathic Surgery

Not Applicable

Terminated

Conditions: Surgical Healing
Orthognathic Surgery
Nerve Injury
Mandible; Deformity

Brief Summary: Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a well-studied technique that has been shown to improve recovery time and reduce pain and swelling in patients undergoing surgery, including orthognathic surgery, and has no known negative effects. This study will use two groups with patients randomly assigned to either the study group, receiving LLLT, or one receiving a placebo treatment, after they have lower jaw surgery. Measurements will be taken at 24 hours, 1 week, 2 week, 3 week, 4 week, 5 week, and 6 week post-op exams to check pain, swelling and nerve function, and the two groups will be compared to see if the LLLT group has any difference

Detailed Description: Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a well-studied technique to induce biomodulation of pain and wound healing. The technique has been shown to improve recovery time and reduce pain and swelling in patients undergoing surgery, including orthognathic surgery, and has no known negative effects. Previous studies have used split-mouth designs, short follow-up periods or, often, both. This study aims to have two groups, one receiving LLLT and one receiving a dummy treatment, at 24 hours, 1 week, 2 week, 3 week, 4 week, 5 week, and 6 week post-op exams. At each visit, pain (via VAS), swelling (measured from the midpoint of the chin to the base of the ear, bilaterally), and nerve function (using a soft and hard sensory test, in 8 regions of the mandible and lower lip) will be performed, with additional measurements at 8 weeks and 20 weeks. The measurements will be analyzed for statistical differences between the LLLT intervention group and non-intervention group.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Patients undergoing mandibular surgery with bilateral sagittal split osteotomies

Exclusion Criteria

patients must be free from pre-operative inferior alveolar neurosensory deficiencies
intra-operative accidental fracture or rupture of the inferior alveolar nerve

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Inferior Alveolar Nerve Function for Soft Stimuli	20 weeks post-surgery	IAN function for soft stimuli was assessed by brushing a cotton swab along a 2cm path of the skin of the mandible and lower lip in 8 regions along the lower jaw. Regions right and left 1, 2 and 3 are on the skin of lower face, 1 cm apart, starting on the midline, and right and left region 4 is the lower lip, separated at the midline. Right and left regions were identified as R1, R2, R3, R4 and L1, L2, L3, and L4, respectively. Patients responded as to whether they were able to feel the cotton swab using a binary Yes (+) or No (-) response. The number of patients who responded Yes is summarized by study arm.
Inferior Alveolar Nerve Function for Hard Stimuli	20 weeks post-surgery	IAN function for hard stimuli was assessed by pressing a toothpick into the skin of the mandible and lower lip in 8 regions along the lower jaw. Regions right and left 1, 2, and 3 are on the skin of the lower face, 1 cm apart, starting on the midline, and right and left region 4 is the lower lip, separated at the midline. Right and left regions were abbreviated as R1, R2, R3, R4 and L1, L2, L3, and L4, respectively. Patients responded as to whether they were able to feel the toothpick using a binary Yes (+) or No (-) response. The number of patients who responded Yes (+) is summarized by study arm.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Post-operative Pain	20 weeks post-surgery	Post-operative pain was assessed and reported during each study visit using a single-item Visual Analog Scale (VAS) question. Patients rated the intensity of pain on each side of the mandible (right and left) on an 11-point Likert scale. Possible VAS scores ranged from 0 (complete absence of pain) to 10 (maximum amount of pain imaginable). Results were summarized by study arm using basic descriptive statistics.
Post-operative Mandibular Swelling	20 weeks post-surgery	Post-operative mandibular swelling was measured using soft measuring tape. The extent of post-operative swelling was measured from the tip of the chin to the base of the earlobe bilaterally (right and left). Measurements were recorded in millimeters (mm) and results summarized by study arm using basic descriptive statistics.

Locations (1): Jacobi Medical Center, Department of Dentistry and Oral Surgery
🇺🇸
Bronx, New York, United States
Jacobi Medical Center, Department of Dentistry and Oral Surgery
🇺🇸Bronx, New York, United States