Infraorbital nerve damage 6 years ago. What can I do about this?

Question

Hello! I've sustained a minimally displaced anterior maxillary sinus wall fracture in November 2016 with involvement of the infraorbital canal / foramen. 2 days after the incidence, my face became numb (left side of upper teeth and gingiva, upper lip, skin between the eye and nose). This has regressed from an anesthesia to a hypoesthesia but it's still there. When brushing teeth or moving my face it Tingles in my face. What can I do about this? Surgeons tell me not to operate... Thanks!

Carlos Damian Palafox Vidal, MD · Answer

One of the procedures currently available for nerve reconstruction involves microsurgery, it is a procedure called cross-face nerve grafting, a technique that uses a nerve branch from the contralateral side of the face (intact infra-orbital nerve), "connected" to a nerve graft and coapted to the damaged nerve. I recommend having a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon with expertise in Microsurgical procedures.

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

It has been a long time since this injury and any efforts at nerve recovery are probably slim. But intraoral nerve decompression with a wrapped around fat graft would be the approach to take to see if any further improvement is possible.

Infraorbital nerve damage 6 years ago. What can I do about this?

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