The fascicular structure of the lingual nerve and the chorda tympani: an anatomic study.

Damage of the lingual nerve is one of the most common problems in oral surgery, especially during removal of the third molar. After microsurgery of the lingual nerve, there is a lack of regeneration of the gustatory fibers in comparison with the sensory fibers. The histologic investigation of ten human lingual nerve preparations showed that the chorda tympani fibers distribute widely in the fascicles of the lingual nerve. Therefore, after microsurgical reconstruction of the lingual nerve in the third molar region, the chance of the gustatory fibers meeting and regenerating is very low.