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Taste perception after lingual nerve repair
S J Scrivani1, M Moses, R B Donoff
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Summary
Lingual nerve repair improves somatosensory function in most patients, but taste perception often remains abnormal. Taste recovery may involve specialized neural pathways distinct from general sensory return.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Otolaryngology
- Sensory Neuroscience
Background:
- Lingual nerve injuries can significantly impact taste and sensation.
- Understanding the neurophysiology of taste recovery after nerve repair is crucial for patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate patient-reported taste perception following lingual nerve injury and microsurgical repair.
- To investigate the correlation between objective sensory recovery and subjective taste improvement.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 22 patients who underwent lingual nerve repair (1995-1996).
- Analysis of injury cause, classification, operative findings, and sensory examination.
- Telephone questionnaires assessed pre- and post-repair whole mouth taste perception.
Main Results:
- 20 of 22 patients reported abnormal taste post-injury.
- Post-repair, 82% showed improved somatosensory function, but only 35% reported improved taste.
- Taste perception recovery did not consistently correlate with objective sensory improvements.
Conclusions:
- Whole mouth taste perception after lingual nerve repair may rely on specialized taste pathways, not general sensory recovery.
- Central neural adaptations in taste pathways could influence post-repair taste perception.
- Further research into taste-specific neurophysiology is warranted.