A new technique for recording sensory conduction velocity of the inferior alveolar nerve

✍ Scribed by Satu K. Jääskeläinen

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 109 KB
• Volume: 22
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0148-639X
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-4598(199904)22:4<455::aid-mus5>3.0.co;2-a

✦ Synopsis

A new electrophysiological technique for recording the sensory conduction velocity (SNCV) of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) is described. Bilateral orthodromic recordings were done in 21 healthy adults. The sensory responses of the IAN were obtained in all 42 nerves examined with silver wire or monopolar needle electrodes inserted beneath the zygomatic arc in front of the temporomandibular joint to a depth of 4-4.5 cm, near the oval foramen. A small bipolar surface electrode was used for stimulation at the mental foramen. In 3 subjects, the stimuli were additionally delivered via two monopolar needle electrodes to reduce the stimulus artifact. Single responses were usually sufficient for analysis, but, in some cases, averaging was adopted to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. Response latencies and amplitudes, SNCVs, and interside differences were measured, and the 97.5% upper and 2.5% lower prediction limits calculated for reference limits in clinical practice. This new technique provides a sensitive and objective diagnostic tool for the examination of IAN injuries, and may also be used for intraoperative monitoring of the IAN during mandibular surgery.