Effectiveness of kinesio taping on postoperative morbidity after impacted mandibular third molar surgery: a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study

Abstract

Objective Our study seeks to investigate the effectiveness of kinesio taping (KT) on postoperative morbidity compared to placebo and control groups after impacted third molar surgery. Methodology Sixty patients with impacted mandibular third molar were included in this prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study. After surgical extraction of the impacted tooth, patients were allocated into three groups (20 patients each): group 1 received KT (kinesio), group 2 received placebo taping (placebo), and group 3 received no taping (control). The groups were compared regarding facial swelling, pain and trismus. Swelling was evaluated using a tape measuring method. Pain was assessed by a visual analog scale and the number of analgesic tablets taken. Trismus was determined by measuring maximum mouth opening. Results In the KT group, all parameters reduced significantly on 2 nd and 4 th postoperative days compared to other groups; however, placebo and control groups revealed comparable outcomes. On 7 th day, all groups showed comparable results. Conclusions The KT application is an effective method for reducing morbidity after impacted mandibular third molar surgery. However, placebo taping is not as effective as proper taping. Placebo taping shows similar results compared to no taping regarding facial swelling percentage, pain and trismus.

The Impact of Using Kinesio Tape on Non-Infectious Complications after Impacted Mandibular Third Molar Surgery

“…In the literature, the authors have unanimously agreed that the most severe swelling occurs after two-to-three days following the surgical removal of the third molar in the mandible [ 38 ]. Most authors also agree on the seven-day follow up [ 18 , 29 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 37 , 39 , 40 ].…”

“…It should also be taken into account that few authors have reported the results of edema measurement with and without KT as a mean of all linear measurements [ 32 , 33 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 39 , 40 ]. In our study, as well as in Tatli’s study [ 34 ], the results were related to each linear measurement separately, which allowed us to separately determine the effect of KT on the occurrence and size of edema in each area. The effect of KT on the occurrence of postoperative pain was also emphasized: KT applications reduced the pressure on nociceptors (analgesic effect).…”

“…Researchers have disagreed about the length of time that patient should be taped. Genc and Erdil removed tapes after two days [ 32 , 33 ]; Tatli [ 34 ], Gözlüklü [ 35 ], de Rocha Heras [ 36 ], and Ristow [ 18 ] removed tapes after five days; and Yurttutan [ 37 ] removed tapes after seven days.…”

“…Patients’ lack of credibility was excluded in the Tatli study on a group of 60 patients. The authors in the study group used the placebo effect to rule out patients’ unreliability [ 34 ]. In our study, the edema was measured with an elastic band, but establishing precise measurement points increased the reliability of the results.…”

Kinesiology Taping as an Innovative Measure against Post-Operative Complications after Third Molar Extraction—Systematic Review

“…Of course, one cannot fully rule out the placebo effect in such cases. Overall patient reliability is confirmed by the Tatti study, where the placebo-taping group was less able to cope with the healing problems than the one in which subjects were properly taped [ 27 ]. The measurement of changes in the facial volume is hard to perform and standardize [ 34 ].…”