Esraa Abdel-Rahman El-Gammal, Abdel-Monem Tawfik Gadallah And Nahed Ebrahim Ghoneem,

ABSTRACT
Background: Surgery On The Impacted Lower Third Molar Commonly Involves Trauma In The Highly Vascularized Field, Leading To Inflammatory Sequelae Including Postoperative Pain, Swelling And Trismus.

Purpose: The Aim Of This Study Was To Assess The Influence Of Intra-masseteric Route Of Administration Of Methylprednisolone On The Postoperative Swelling, Trismus, And Pain After Impacted Lower Third Molar Surgery.

Materials and Methods: The Split-mouth Study Was Conducted On A Sample Of 20 Patients Who Required Surgical Removal Of Bilateral Impacted Lower Third Molars And Met The Inclusion Criteria. Each Patient Was Randomly Categorized In Two Groups The Study Group: Preoperative Intra-masseteric Administration Of 40 Mg Methylprednisolone Acetate As A Single Dose Via Intrabuccal Approach, And The Control Group: A Placebo (the Same Volume Of Sterile Saline Solution) Was Injected. Baseline Measurements Were Done Pre-operatively And Subsequent Assessment Were Made Post-operatively To Measure Post-operative Facial Swelling, Inter-incisal Mouth Opening. Also, Postoperative Pain Was Measured Using (VAS) And The Amount Of Analgesic Consumed Also Was Recorded.

Results: Reduction In Swelling, Pain And The Total Postoperative Analgesic Consumption Was Found To Be Significantly More In The Study Group Than In The Control Group. However, There Were No Significant Differences Between Both Groups Regarding The Inter-incisal Distance Measurements.

Conclusions: A Single Dose Of 40 Mg Methylprednisolone Injected Into The Masseter Muscle Preoperatively Was Significantly Effective In Reduction Of Postoperative Swelling, Pain Intensity, And The Total Intake Of Analgesics After Lower Third Molar Surgical Extraction, But There Was No Effect On Trismus. Also, It Offers A Simple, Safe And Painless Therapeutic Option For Moderate And Severe Cases.