Time-Lapse Between Presentation and Treatment of Mandibular Fractures: Is There a Correlation With Sensory Loss Recovery or No Recovery?

A prospective cohort study composed of 43 patients treated for unilateral mandibular fracture. The primary study variables were the post-traumatic IAN neurosensory score and the score after fracture reduction in two different groups on the basis of time lapse between presentation and treatment and displacement of mandible fracture. Appropriate descriptive and bivariate statistics were computed. The sample was analyzed over a one year period. It was observed that the recovery percentage (80%) was good in Group-A (n = 20) patients as compared to Group-B (n = 23) patients (43.47%) with significant P value of 0.015. Patients with displacement of ≥9 mm have neurosensory deficit of 80% while fracture displacement ≥ 5 mm to 8 mm have the neurosensory deficit of 34.21% which is significant with P value of 0.049. With each millimeter increase of displacement of fracture segments, more neurosensory deficit will be manifested. Delay in seeking in the treatment increases the risk because of continued movement. Where the injury is more severe, excessive displacement with increased time lapse from injury to surgical intervention, there is a higher possibility neurosensory deficit or no recovery. Early management can reduce the risk of permanent neurosensory deficits.