Mandibular Measurements After Alveolar Nerve Transection in Rabbits

Objective: to present the preliminary results obtained after the transection of inferior alveolar nerve in growing rabbits. Neural damage is a possible cause of osseous deformities, particularly in growing subjects. Method: Eighteen New Zealand Rabbits post-weaning were used, 12 as experimental group and 6 as control group (Sham operated). A specific surgical protocol was designed for to carry out the unilateral nerve transection by avoiding musculoskeletal injuries. The animals were sacrificed 90 days postoperatory, and the mandibles carefully dissected. Mandibulometry was carried out with a micron caliper. For this study, only anterior-posterior measurements were obtained from six points especifically established for this objective in the rabbit mandible. A total of eight measurements were obtained. Each measure was made three times by the same examiner and the average value was considered. Results: the anterior-posterior measurements of the molar region of the denervated hemimandible were significantly lower compared with the contralateral values. The control group did not show these differences. However, these changes did not cause evident deformity or dysfunction in the masticatory system. Animals were fed normally and their weight was considered within normal parameters while growing. Conclusion: the macro-morphology and function of mandibular bone in adult rabbits is not affected if neural damage occurs in the principal sensitive nerve while the animals are growing.