Article

Postoperative morbidity is a major disadvantage after oral and
maxillofacial (OMF) surgery, often caused by pain, trismus and swelling affecting
patients' quality of life. The goal of this study was to examine the effect of
kinesiologic taping (KT) on swelling, pain, trismus and patients' satisfaction
after OMF surgery. METHOD : Performing a pooled analysis of 96
patients that were assigned for maxillofacial treatment (midface fractures n =
30, mandibular fractures n = 26, wisdom tooth removal n = 40) divided into
treatment either with or without kinesiologic tape application. Tape was applied
directly after surgery and maintained for at least 5 d postoperatively. Facial
swelling was quantified at six specific points in time using a five-line
measurement. Pain and degree of mouth opening was measured. Patients' objective
feeling and satisfaction was queried. RESULTS: Application of KT after OMF
surgery has a significant influence on the reduction of swelling decreasing the
turgidity for 60% during the first 2 d after surgery. Evaluating all patients
swelling was significantly lower in the KT treatment group (T2: 63.5 cm +/- 4.3;
T3: 62.5 cm +/- 4.2; T4: 61.6 cm +/- 4.2) than in the no-KT group (T2: 67.6 cm
+/- 5.0; T3: 67.0 cm +/- 5.0; T4: 64.8 cm +/- 4.8) at T2 (p < 0.001), T3 (p <
0.001), and T4 (p = 0.001). VAS Pain values were scored significantly lower for
the KT group (T1: 2.5 +/- 2.0 (p = 0.006); T2: 1.7 +/- 2.0 (p < 0.001); T3: 1.5
+/- 2.3 (p = 0.004); T4: 0.6 +/- 1.1 (p = 0.001) compared to the no-KT group (T1:
3.8 +/- 2.5; T2: 3.5 +/- 2.7; T3: 2.9 +/- 2.2; T4: 1.6 +/- 1.7). A statistically
significant amelioration in mean mouth opening ability was observed in the KT
group (T1-BL: -0.08 cm +/- 0.49 (p = 0.025); T2-BL: 0.07 cm +/- 0.59 (p = 0.012);
T3-BL: 0.20 +/- 0.63 (p = 0.013); T4-BL: 0.42 +/- 0.59 (p = 0.003)) compared to
the no-KT group (T1-BL: -0.47 cm +/- 0.86; T2-BL: -0.39 cm +/- 0.84; T3-BL: -0.24
+/- 0.89; T4-BL: -0.13 +/- 1.02). CONCLUSION: KT after OMF surgery is a
promising, simple, less traumatic, economical approach free from systemic adverse
reaction upgrading patients' quality of life.

Langue : ANGLAIS