DOI: 10.36347/sjds.2019.v06i05.008

Pages: 284-287

Background: Lower third molar removal is common in oral surgical practice, since impacted molar rates of up to 40% have been reported. Aim: To compare the effectiveness of different routes of administration of methylprednisolone on trismus after impacted lower third molar surgery. Methods: The patients were randomly divided into five groups: Group 1 (control; no steroids), Group 2 (Local injection), Group 3 (oral tablets), Group 4 (i.v. injection) and Group 5 (Intramuscular Injection). Trismus was evaluated on day 2 and day 7. Trismus was recorded by measuring the inter-incisal opening at maximum opening of the jaws. Results: At the end of day 2, mean trismus score was found to be maximum in Group 1 (38.63 ± 6.02) whereas minimum in Group 5 (36.75 ± 4.03). At the end of day 7, mean trismus score was found to be maximum in Group 1 (44.07 ± 5.72) whereas minimum in Group 4 (41.14 ± 4.52). There was no statistically significant difference in mean trismus score at day 2 between the study and test groups. Conclusion: All the routes of administration showed better results as compared to control. Oral administration and i.v. injection of methylprednisolone achieved similar results, while local administration provided better results.