Selegiline as an innovative drug for the treatment of inferior alveolar nerve injury: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injuries are common complications of mandibular orthognathic surgery. Selegiline has demonstrated neuroprotective effects in preclinical studies.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of oral selegiline hydrochloride on neurosensory recovery following bilateral sagittal split osteotomy.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial was conducted with 40 patients. Participants received either selegiline (5 mg/day for 30 days) or a combination of uridine 5'-triphosphate (UTP), cytidine-5'-monophosphate (CMP), and hydroxycobalamin (three times daily). Neurosensory assessments included two-point discrimination, directional perception, and 1-point sensitivity, evaluated at six time points. Pain was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS).

Results: The selegiline group showed earlier improvement in some parameters, especially in 1-point tactile sensitivity of the lower lip at day 15 (p < 0.05). Differences in two-point discrimination and directional perception were not consistent. Pain scores were lower in the selegiline group at day 15 (p < 0.05). By day 90, both groups had similar recovery levels.

Conclusion: Selegiline hydrochloride may contribute to early neurosensory recovery after IAN injury, particularly in the lower lip. However, these benefits were limited to specific parameters and time points. Further studies are needed to validate its therapeutic potential.