Surgical Mini-Lectures and Clinics
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
2:00PM - 4:00PM
S121
Microsurgical Repair of Trigeminal Nerve Injuries
Vincent B. Ziccardi, DDS, MD
Associate Professor and Chair, Residency Director, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
Newark, NJ
Synopsis
Injuries to the peripheral branches of the trigeminal nerve are a known risk of many oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures. Practitioners must understand these risks and be able to recognize, document and refer when indicated to those surgeons trained in microsurgical techniques. This presentation will review the mechanisms of trigeminal nerve injury, diagnosis, neurosensory testing including quantitative electric sensory thresholds, microsurgical techniques and outcomes of trigeminal nerve microsurgery. Review of nerve grafting indications, anatomy and procurement will be presented.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this presentation, participants should be able to:
- Identify those patients at risk for trigeminal nerve injury preoperatively and take appropriate action to minimize risks including informed consent.
- Discuss the assessment and appropriate documentation for trigeminal nerve injuries.
- Describe the common surgical procedures and armamentarium, patient positioning and outcome assessments of trigeminal nerve microsurgery.