Facial skin sensibility in a young healthy chinese population.

OBJECTIVE

To quantify normal neurosensory facial sensibility in a young healthy Chinese population for use as a reference when evaluating postoperative nerve damage.

STUDY DESIGN

One hundred consecutive eligible normal young Chinese individuals were included. Each subject underwent objective neurosensory testing (static light touch, 2-point static, and pain detection thresholds) at 8 facial sites within the distribution of the trigeminal nerve. Data were calculated into means and standard deviations, and paired t tests were used to compare values between the left and right sides and quadrants; unpaired t test was used to compare the values between genders. A P value of <or=.05 was considered to be significant.

RESULTS

The chin region was least sensitive to light touch detection, and the normal thresholds ranged from 1.72 to 1.80. The infraorbital areas were least sensitive for 2-point discrimination, and the normal values for this modality ranged from 7.04 mm to 11.87 mm. Infraorbital areas were also most resistant to pain, and normal values ranged from 13.17 g to 20.30 g. There was no statistically significant difference between facial sides or quadrants. Male subjects were found to have a higher pain detection threshold, especially in the chin and the right infraorbital areas.

CONCLUSION

Reference values for normal facial sensibility in the form of objective neurosensory testing scores have been documented for a healthy Chinese population. These results provide baseline data for future surgical studies in this and similar populations.