Neurosensory disturbance with rigid fixation of the bilateral sagittal split osteotomy

Twenty-one patients who underwent bilateral sagittal split osteotomies using rigid fixation were evaluated by neurosensory testing. Neurosensory tests included light touch (LT), brush stroke direction (BSD), two-point discrimination (2-P), and temperature (T). Tests were conducted using the two-alternate forced choice method. The density of neurosensory disturbance was examined as well as the incidence of neurosensory disturbance as it correlated with age of the patient. The incidence of neurosensory disturbance was 45.2% ( 19 42) to LT, 52.4% ( 22 42) to BSD, 33.3% ( 14 42) to 2-P and 7.1% ( 3 42) to T. The majority of demonstrable neurosensory disturbances were not dense. Increased age was associated with an increased incidence of neurosensory disturbance.