COMMA SHAPED INCISION AND ITS INFLUENCE ON POST-OPERATIVE HEALING (PAIN AND TRISMUS) IN COMPARISON WITH STANDARD WARD’S INCISION

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The most frequent procedure performed in the oral and maxillofacial surgical department is the surgical extraction of an impacted third molar. A minor surgical intervention with appropriate flap is frequently necessary to remove an impacted third molar.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of comma shaped incision in comparison with standard ward’s incision among patients with mesioangular mandibular third molar impaction.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This randomized control trial was conducted at Foundation University College of Dentistry Islamabad from 9^th October 2015 to 22^nd November 2016. Total 116 adult volunteer subjects, 58 in each group within the age range of 18-50 years were assessed. Preoperative radiographs were obtained. Based on the lottery method, the patients were allocated arbitrarily into two equal groups. Ward's incision was given to Group A, and a comma-shaped incision was given to Group B.

RESULTS: The patients' mean age (years) was 33.81+5.03. Patients included 97 (83.6%) women and 19 (16.4) men. The effectiveness of the comma-shaped incision compared to the standard ward's incision among patients with mesioangular mandibular third molar impaction in terms of post-operative pain score at 7^th day was 35 (60.3) and 21 (36.2), respectively, which was highly significant (p-value 0.009), whereas trismus at 7^th post-operative day was 41mm (70.7) and 48mm (82.8), respectively, which was not significant (p-value 0.124) statistically.

CONCLUSION: We have concluded from our study that comma-shaped incisions were superior to ward's incisions in terms to lessen discomfort following mandibular third molar surgery, however, trismus in both groups was not effective.