[Horizontal osteotomy of the body of the mandible with transfer of the inferior dental nerve].

By patient with developmental face asymmetry resulting from unilateral mandibular hyperplasia, irregular height of the mandibular body was strongly manifested on affected side. Since a large portion of inferior border of the mandible predicted to be cutted off contained almost the whole of the lower alveolar nerve, transfer of this last was employed. The nerve was surgically isolated along its course, and secured by being lifted while horizontal osteotomy of mandibular body was performed. Next the nerve was accommodated in new groove created in a safe distance from the roots of lower teeth. Postoperative healing was uneventful, but feeling in the region of lower lip was decreased during a few days immediately after surgery. Patient reexamined 18 months later demonstrated satisfactory esthetic and functional result with preserved feeling in the region supplied by the lower alveolar nerve.