Effects of Oral Melatonin on Neurosensory Recovery Following Facial Osteotomies
Status:
Unknown status
Trial end date:
2017-09-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Orthognathic surgery is commonly performed for the treatment of dentofacial deformities. Yet,
one of the most prevalent and long-term complication encountered is neurosensory disturbance
thus impairing sensation to parts of the face. In Hong Kong, it has been reported that in
patients receiving orthognathic surgery, 5.9% experience long-term neurosensory disturbance
post-surgery.
Melatonin is a neurohormone that is produced and secreted by the pineal gland in the brain.
Its main physiological role in humans is to regulate sleep. Oral Melatonin supplements is
also used in the management of jetlag and other sleep disorders. Recently, animal and human
studies have shown Melatonin to improve tolerance to pain and to have a neuroprotective and
neuroregenerative effect after nerve injuries.
Hence, it is hypothesized that peri-surgical oral Melatonin supplement can improve
neurosensory recovery after orthognathic surgery