Evaluation of the tactile sensibility of the facial area i̇n young healthy adults using Semmes - Weinstein Monofilament Test

Aim :The objective of our study is to find the normal values of tactile sensation in the trigeminal sensory area of the face usingthe Semmes - Weinstein Monofilament test in young healthy adults. Method: The population of the study consisted of 130 healthy students aged 18-25 at Istanbul Arel University. The exclusion criteria were not being willing or not volunteering to participate in the study, individuals under the age of 18 and above the age of 25, individuals who have learning difficulties or have a history of sensory defect or facial paralysis or have diabetes or have had previous surgery in the facial area, tenderness in the facial area, petechia, hematoma, bleeding condition, presence of infection in the facial area, tattoo or piercing in the facial area. For this purpose, the dominant and non-dominant sides of 10 areas in the predetermined trigeminal sensory area in the face(forehead, upper eyelid, lower eyelid, nose back, nose tip, nose wings, upper lip, lower lip, cheek and chin) wereboth evaluated by the same researcher throughthe Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test. Results: When the sociodemographic attributes were compared between the men and women, a statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of age, weight, height and the BMI (p <0.05). Although the men had more body mass index, the mean of both groups was within the normal BMI limits. There was a statistically significant difference between the male and female participants in the monofilament test measurements obtained under the eye and above the lip(p<0.05). In all measurements made with monofilament, no statistical difference was found between the groups determined based on dominance (p> 0.05). It was discovered that the data obtained in the monofilament measurements of the women were higher than menon the right and left bottom of the eye and on the right and left of the upper lip. The comparison of the mean values of the monofilament measurement data between the groups based on dominance was made in Table6. It was determined that there was no statistical difference between the right and left dominant side groups (p> 0.05). It was observed that there was no statistically significant relationship between the age of the patients and the measurements (p> 0.05). There was a significant moderate negative correlation between the weight and the upper right lip monofilament test measurements; and a moderate positive relationship between the weight and the chin right side monofilament test measurements (p <0.05). It was observed that there was a moderate negative relationship between the height and the mofilament test measurement results of the right and left side of the eye and the upper right of the lip (p<0.05). Conclusion:Having evaluated the tactile sensation of the facial area in young healthy adults using the Semmes-Weinstein Monofilament Test, we found a difference between the females and males in the Semmes-Weinstein Monofilament test results based on the right and left upper lip region and the monofilament measurement values of the face in our study. There was a relationship between the physical attributesof our cases (height, weight, age and the BMI). Although there are many studies for determining tactile sensation using the Semmes-Weinstein Monofilament test and many studies on the tactile sensation, only a few evaluate the tactile sensation of the facial region. For this reason, our study will create a normative value of the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test identifier in terms of the normal values of tactile sensation in the face of young healthy adults and within Turkey. Today, the evaluation of the senses during and after facial and surgical interventions is importantfor the performed applications. Clinically, there is a need for descriptive studies that would guide this assessment. Producing normative data on the sex-specific tactile sense of the face in healthy young adults will help treatment and evaluation during such surgical and interventional applications. Keywords: The Semmes - Weinstein Monofilament Test, Tactic Sensation, Young Adults