Objective and subjective comparison of submucosal and intravenous routes of single-dose preoperative dexamethasone for mandibular third molar surgery-a prospective randomized observer-blind study

Effect of submucosal dexamethasone on postoperative pain, swelling and trismus after periodontal surgery: a randomized clinical study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of submucosal 8 mg (2 mL) dexamethasone (DEX) on postoperative pain, swelling, chewing efficiency, trismus, healing, and discomfort after periodontal flap surgery (PFS).

METHODS

In this randomized controlled split-mouth study, 25 patients underwent PFS in the mandible, whereby postoperative, submucosal DEX was injected to the surgical field to the test group and submucosal normal saline was applied to the control group. Pain was evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the 101-point numeric rate scale in the first 8 h after PFS and on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 7th days, whereas swelling, chewing efficiency, trismus, healing, discomfort and analgesic consumption were evaluated preoperatively on the 1st, 2nd and 7th days.

RESULTS

In the intergroup evaluation, the VAS-7th hour value of the test group was lower than the control group(p < 0.05). On the 1st day, it was observed that there was less swelling and more chewing efficiency in the test group than in the control group(p < 0.05). When time-dependent changes were examined, the decrease in mouth opening due to trismus in the control group was greater than that in the test group on the 1st and the 2nd days compared to the preoperative period(p < 0.05). Finally, postoperative healing, discomfort, and analgesic consumption were similar between groups.

CONCLUSION

Within the limits of this study, the submucosal DEX may be an effective protocol in the management of pain, swelling, and trismus after PFS.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Our findings shed light on the possible effects of DEX after PFS.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06119893).

Investigation of the Effect of Local and Systemic Preoperative Dexamethasone Application on Bone Tissue Healing in Mandibular Bone Defects

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of locally and systemically delivered single-dose corticosteroid injections on bone tissue.

STUDY DESIGN

A total of 84 Wistar albino rats were divided into 2 groups as local and systemic injection groups, and 2 groups as control and experiment among themselves. Before the procedure, dexamethasone was given to the experimental group and physiological saline was given to the control group. A defect was created in the jawbone. It was sacrificed on the third, seventh, and 40th days. The mandible bones of the sacrificed rats were removed and the healing of the bone tissue was examined histopathologically.

RESULTS

No significant difference was observed in the tissue sections of the subjects sacrificed after 40 days. However, the increase in fibroblastic connective tissue and the number of osteoblasts were less in the experimental local groups that were sacrificed after 7 days compared with the control groups (P=0.040 and 0.041). Again, it was determined that there was a statistically significant decrease in the experimental local group compared with the experimental systemic group (P=0.040 and 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

It can be said that single-dose corticosteroid applications cause a delay in bone healing in the early period.

The Local Route of Administration of Dexamethasone in Impacted Mandibular Third Molar Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials and a Critical Narrative Review on the Claimed Advantages of the Local Route

Introduction

The proponents of local route of Dexamethasone (DXM) administration for impacted mandibular 3rd molar (MM3) surgeries claim advantages over the traditional systemic routes. This systematic review and meta-analysis were aimed to determine whether the route of perioperative administration of DXM influences the inflammatory outcomes of MM3 surgeries.

Methodology

An electronic database search over a 25 year period of randomised trials of DXM in MM3 surgeries was conducted. The mean differences or standardised mean differences were extracted and pooled using the fixed or random-effects model.

Results

Of the sixteen selected trials, four were considered for a meta-analysis. There were no statistically significant differences in the inflammatory outcomes between the local and systemic routes of DXM.

Conclusion

The claimed advantages of the local route of DXM do not appear to be scientifically valid. Clinical trials supported with DXM plasma measurements are needed to confirm the absence of a systemic effect when DXM is administered locally.

Efficacy of different dexamethasone routes and doses in reducing the postoperative sequelae of impacted mandibular third-molar extraction: A network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

BACKGROUND

The aim of this network meta-analysis was to assess the comparative effects of different dexamethasone (DXM) routes and doses on reducing postoperative sequelae (pain, swelling, trismus) after surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars.

METHODS

Five databases were searched on September 22, 2021, for randomized controlled trials. Risk of bias (ROB) was assessed using the Cochrane ROB 2 tool. Study heterogeneity, publication bias, and quality of evidence were investigated. Network meta-analyses were conducted (P < .05), and the P-score was used to rank comparisons of DXM doses and routes.

RESULTS

Thirty-four eligible studies were included. Eight studies had low ROB, 21 had some concerns, and 5 had high ROB. The certainty of evidence evaluated by the Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis tool indicated low to very low certainty in most comparisons. The results showed that most DXM route and dose combinations were superior to a placebo in reducing the postoperative sequelae 1 day after surgical extraction. The results also showed that a 4-mg DXM submucosal injection substantially reduces pain 3 days after extraction compared with a 4-mg twin-mix or 8-mg intramuscular injection. Overall, it appears that 4 mg DXM submucosal injection or admixed with local anesthetic is effective in reducing postoperative sequelae after surgical extraction.

CONCLUSIONS

Within the limitations of this study, the administration of DXM appears to be effective in reducing the postoperative sequelae, especially in the submucosal route. However, no noteworthy differences were found between the investigated DXM route and dose comparisons.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

Submucosal DXM injection effectively reduce postoperative sequelae of third-molar extractions.

Comparison of Submucosal With Intramuscular or Intravenous Administration of Dexamethasone for Third Molar Surgeries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: The study aimed to review evidence on the efficacy of submucosal (SM) administration vs. intravenous (IV) or intramuscular (IM) route of injections of dexamethasone for improving outcomes after mandibular third molar surgery. Methods: PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, and Google Scholar were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) up to 20th May 2021. Early (2-3 days) and late (7 days) outcomes were compared between SM vs. IV or IM dexamethasone. Quality of evidence was assessed based on GRADE. Results: Thirteen trials were included in the systematic review and 10 in the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis indicated a significant reduction in early pain with IV dexamethasone but no such difference for late pain compared to the SM group. There was no difference in early and late swelling scores between the SM and IV groups. Pooled analysis indicated no significant difference in early and late trismus between SM and IV groups. Comparing SM with IM dexamethasone, there was no significant difference in early and late pain scores. Swelling in the early and late postoperative periods was not significantly different between the two groups. There was no significant difference in early and late trismus between SM and IM groups. The quality of evidence was low for all outcomes. Conclusion: Low-quality evidence suggests that SM infiltration of dexamethasone results in similar outcomes as compared to IV or IM administration of the drug after third molar surgeries. Further high-quality RCTs are needed to corroborate the current conclusions.

Effect of intravenous dexamethasone on postoperative pain and swelling following periodontal flap surgery: A randomized controlled trial of patient-centered outcomes

BACKGROUND

This randomized, crossover trial sought to determine if a preoperative intravenous (IV) dose of dexamethasone reduces pain, swelling, and analgesic usage following periodontal surgery.

METHODS

Thirty-seven patients planned for two similar periodontal flap surgeries under IV sedation were enrolled. Patients were randomized to receive either 2 mL (8 mg) dexamethasone sodium phosphate or 2 mL of IV solution (placebo) before the first surgery, and 2 mL of the other solution before the second surgery. Postoperative discomfort was managed with a standardized regimen of 600 mg ibuprofen and 325 mg acetaminophen. A smartphone application was used to record self-assessed pain and swelling scores using 21-point numerical (NRS-21) and 4-point verbal (VRS-4) rating scales as well as the number of analgesic medications taken at 12-, 24-, 48-, 72-, 168-, and 336-hours following each surgery.

RESULTS

IV dexamethasone was associated with a significant reduction in pain at 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours (P <0.05), and swelling at 12, 24, 48, and 168 hours (P < 0.05) postoperatively when compared with placebo based on NRS-21 responses. VRS-4 data showed significant reductions in pain at 12, 72, and 168 hours and swelling at 12, 24, and 168 hours postoperatively with dexamethasone. No significant differences were found in the number of tablets of ibuprofen or acetaminophen between dexamethasone and placebo surgeries.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative, intravenously administered dexamethasone reduces pain and swelling within the first postoperative week following periodontal flap surgery and should be considered a useful adjunct for perioperative management.