This study evaluated whether giving a single dose of long-acting corticosteroids before wisdom tooth surgery reduces pain, facial swelling, and limited jaw opening (trismus) after surgery. Adult patients aged 18-35 undergoing impacted lower wisdom tooth removal were randomly assigned to receive either 8 mg dexamethasone or a placebo before surgery. Pain, swelling, and jaw mobility were measured at several time points after surgery. The study aimed to determine if preoperative corticosteroids improve recovery and reduce discomfort following surgery.
Surgical removal of impacted lower wisdom teeth often causes pain, swelling, and reduced jaw opening (trismus) due to tissue inflammation. This study examined whether giving a single dose of long-acting corticosteroids before surgery could reduce these postoperative problems. Adult patients aged 18-35 years who required surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars were randomly assigned to receive either 8 mg dexamethasone (treatment group) or a placebo (control group) 30 minutes before surgery. The study measured pain using a visual analog scale, facial swelling with standard facial landmarks, and jaw opening with calipers at multiple time points after surgery. Analgesic consumption was also recorded. The goal was to determine whether preoperative corticosteroid administration could improve recovery, reduce discomfort, and enhance patient comfort after third molar surgery. This information may help guide oral surgeons in postoperative care and improve outcomes for patients undergoing similar procedures.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
60
Patients receive a single intramuscular injection of 8 mg dexamethasone 30 minutes before surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars. This intervention is intended to reduce postoperative pain, facial swelling, and trismus. No additional steroids are allowed postoperatively.
Patients receive a single intramuscular injection of 2 mL normal saline 30 minutes before surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars. This placebo control is used to compare the effect of preoperative dexamethasone on postoperative pain, facial swelling, and trismus.
Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Al Salam University
Tanta, Gharbia Governorate, Egypt
Postoperative pain
Postoperative pain will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a 10-cm horizontal line ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst pain imaginable. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.
Time frame: 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively.
Facial Swelling Measured by Linear Facial Measurements (Tragus-Pogonion and Gonion-Lateral Canthus Distances)
Facial swelling will be assessed using standardized linear facial measurements between anatomical landmarks (tragus to pogonion and gonion to lateral canthus) using a flexible measuring tape. Measurements will be recorded in millimeters (mm). An increase in distance compared to preoperative values indicates greater facial swelling.
Time frame: Preoperatively, Day 2, and Day 7 postoperatively
Trismus (Maximum interincisal opening)
Trismus will be measured by maximum interincisal mouth opening using calipers.
Time frame: Preoperatively, Day 2, and Day 7 postoperatively
Analgesic consumption
Total number of rescue analgesic tablets (ibuprofen 400 mg) taken postoperatively.
Time frame: Postoperative days 1-7
Number of rescue analgesic tablets taken
Number of additional analgesic tablets consumed by each participant after surgery.
Time frame: Postoperative days 1-7
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