[Decrease and asymmetry in taste perception in patients with nerve trunk damage]

The purpose of this article was the gustatory perception state study (NaCl solution perception) in patients with one-sided damages of branchial plexus as well as of radial, facial and ulnar nervous trunks. The decrease of gustatory perception was observed in 78 (70.3%) cases, while the lack of such alterations in 33 (29.7%) patients. The gustatory perception disturbances (increase of the absolute threshold on the ipsilateral tongue's half) took place in 82.2% and 69.6% at right and left limbs damages respectively. The results presented testified the strengthening of normally existing asymmetry in gustatory perception especially in patients with left-sided denervation. The degree of gustatory perception restoration may serve as a prognostic test at surgery of such patients.