Effects of Pre-operative Submucosal Dexamethasone Injection on the Postoperative Swelling and Trismus Following Surgical Extraction of Mandibular Third Molar

Objective: To determine the effects of pre-operative submucosal dexamethasone injection on postoperative swelling and trismus following surgical extraction of mandibular third molar. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry (AFID), Rawalpindi, from October 2009 to March 2010. Methodology: A total of 100 patients aged 18 - 40 years with good periodontal health and mesioangular impaction were divided in two treatment groups (50 in each group). Group-A received prophylactic 4 mg submucosal dexamethasone intraoral injection and Group-B acted as control group. Facial swelling and trismus were assessed at baseline, 2nd and 7th postoperative days. Data was analyzed using SPSS-10. Results: There were 35 (70%) males and 15 (30%) females in group-A and 34 (68%) males and 16 (32%) females in group-B. Surgical time ranged from 30 - 50 minutes (mean = 40.62 +- 4.886 minutes) for group-A and 33 - 50 minutes (mean = 42.12 +- 4.543 minutes) for group-B. Administration of dexamethasone had statistically significant effect in reduction of swelling and trismus on second postoperative day (p < 0.05) in group-A. Conclusion: Pre-operative 4 mg submucosal dexamethasone injection was significantly effective in reduction of postoperative swelling and trismus. (author)