The ten test for facial sensory assessment: A scoping review

Practical and reliable assessment of facial sensation is critical in plastic and reconstructive surgery given its role in mastication, speech, and communication. The Ten Test (TT), a sensory assessment based on comparison between normal and affected sensation, emerged as an alternative to calibrated monofilaments and has been validated extensively in the upper extremity. The goal of this scoping review was to map the existing evidence regarding TT assessment of facial sensation and identify gaps that warrant further investigation. Seven relevant publications were identified, comprising five clinical studies and two descriptive sources. The TT was applied across a range of trigeminal nerve injuries including facial transplantation, iatrogenic nerve injury, and craniosynostosis to assess postoperative sensory recovery. Use extended to intraoral and intranasal mucosa in select contexts, and the TT also played a role in preoperative evaluation of corneal neurotization candidates. This review summarizes the findings and their clinical relevance, including barriers to validation and limitations of evidence, to help improve perioperative facial sensory assessment.