Skip to main content
2026 AAOMS 108th Annual Meeting Main banner
Icon Legend
This session is not in your schedule.
This session is in your schedule. Click again to remove it.
Presentation Icons
Ticketed <br><i>This session/event requires a ticket.</i>
Ticketed
This session/event requires a ticket.
In-person only<br><i>This session is offered in-person only.</i>
In-person only
This session is offered in-person only.
On-demand<br><i>On-demand session available beginning Sept. 28.</i>
On-demand
On-demand session available beginning Sept. 28.
Recorded<br><i>This session will be recorded and available beginning Oct. 19</i>
Recorded
This session will be recorded and available beginning Oct. 19
Sold Out<br><i>This ticketed session/event is sold out.</i>
Sold Out
This ticketed session/event is sold out.

Nerve Repair

OMS and Other Dental Specialists

Session: Oral Abstract Session Three

SA3 - Sensory Outcomes Following Nerve Tape Sutureless Neurorrhaphy for Reconstruction of Lingual and Inferior Alveolar Nerve Discontinuities

Saturday, October 3, 2026
9:20 AM - 9:30 AM PDT

    Oral Abstract Presenter(s)

  • Timothy W. Neal, DDS, MD

    Resident
    UT Southwestnern/Parkland Memorial
    Dallas, Texas

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Yotom A. Rabinowitz, DDS

    Attending Surgeon, Program Director
    VCU School of Dentistry Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
    Richmond, Virginia

  • John R. Zuniga, DMD, PhD, MS

    Professor, Robert V. Walker DDS Endowed Chair in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
    University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
    Dallas, Texas

Abstract: Background: Trigeminal nerve repair with microsuture techniques provides predictable functional sensory recovery (FSR) outcomes.1,2 Recently, a new sutureless peripheral nerve repair device has been introduced.

Purpose: The purpose of this case series was to determine the rate of FSR following reconstruction of the lingual (LN) and inferior alveolar nerves (IAN) using Nerve Tape sutureless neurorrhaphy.

Study Design: This retrospective case series was composed of subjects who underwent reconstruction of IAN and LN discontinuities using Nerve Tape neurorrhaphy from 2023 to 2025 at the University of Texas Southwestern and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Predictor Variable: The primary predictor variable was Nerve Tape.

Outcome Variable: The primary outcome variable was FSR.

Covariates: Demographic covariates included age and sex. Preoperative covariates included the nerve injured (LN, IAN), laterality of the injured nerve, and etiology of injury. Operative covariates included the measured nerve gap in centimeters, allograft (yes/no), Sunderland classification found, operative time, and injury-to-surgery time in days.

Analyses: Frequencies and proportions were calculated for categorical data. Means, medians, and standard deviations were calculated for continuous data. When evaluating the effect of the covariates on the primary predictor variables, chi-squared analyses and t-tests were used. When evaluating the effect of the primary predictor variables on the secondary outcome variable, t-test was used.

Results: The study sample was composed of 19 subjects who underwent 21 nerve repairs using Nerve Tape. A total of 17 subjects (81%) achieved FSR within the study period. There was a statistically significant difference in operative time between Nerve Tape and control group (P = .001; 95% CI 21.5-60.4).

Conclusions: FSR rate following Nerve Tape neurorrhaphy for trigeminal nerve repair is comparable to published FSR rates using microsuture neurorrhaphy. There was a statistically significant difference between Nerve Tape and the control group. Repair with Nerve Tape resulted in a mean operative time that was 40 minutes shorter compared with control microsuture repair.


References

1. Susarla SM, Kaban LB, Donoff RB, Dodson TB. Functional sensory recovery after trigeminal nerve repair. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2007;65(1):60-5. doi: 10.1016/j.joms.2005.11.115.

2. Suhaym O, Miloro M. Does early repair of trigeminal nerve injuries influence neurosensory recovery? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2021;50(6):820-829. doi: 10.1016/j.ijom.2020.10.002.