[Horizontal osteotomy of the mandibular body with transfer of the inferior dental nerve].

In a patient with developmental facial asymmetry resulting from unilateral mandibular hyperplasia, irregular height of the mandibular body was strongly manifested on the affected side. Since a large portion of the inferior border of the mandible predicted to be cut off contained almost the whole of the lower alveolar nerve, transfer of the latter was employed. The nerve was surgically isolated along its course, and secured by being lifted while horizontal osteotomy of the mandibular body was performed. The nerve was accommodated in new groove created at a safe distance from the roots of the lower teeth. Postoperative healing was uneventful, but feeling in the region of lower lip was decreased during a few days immediately after surgery. The patient reexamined 18 months later demonstrated satisfactory esthetic and functional result with preserved feeling in the region supplied by the lower alveolar nerve.