Patterns of sensory recovery in the lingual nerve after surgical trauma

To examine the pattern of sensory recovery in the lingual nerve following injury, with an emphasis on qualitative changes.

Using data from one patient with prolonged dysaesthesia after surgical trauma to the lingual nerve, we correlated changes in perceived sensory function during recovery with results from qualitative and quantitative taste tests, and patient-reported quality-of-life measures.

Recovery of quantitative taste testing as measured by automated electrogustometry, and qualitative whole of mouth taste testing, preceded perceptual recovery of taste. On the other hand, taste acuity as measured by regional qualitative taste testing tended to lag behind perceptual recovery. The pattern of recovery in the different qualitative taste sensations suggests variation in sensitivity of the nerve fibres responsible for carrying taste sensation, with the fibres relating to bitter and sour taste being the last to recover.

To our knowledge, taking into account the limitations of this study, this picture of differential recovery of taste function in the lingual nerve has not been previously reported.