Comparative Efficacy of Dexamethasone Versus Prednisone in the Prevention of Post-Operative Edema, Pain, and Trismus Following Mandibular Third Molar Surgery

To compare the effectiveness of preoperatively administered dexamethasone (8 mg intramuscular) against prednisone (40 mg oral) in reducing postoperative edema, pain intensity, and trismus severity following impacted mandibular third molar extraction

retrospective, double-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled trial

Dept of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Islam Dental College, Sialkot.

Patients were eligible for inclusion if they were aged 18–40 years, had a unilateral impacted mandibular third molar requiring surgical extraction under local anaesthesia, and were classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status Class I or II. The molar had to be classified as Class II Position B impaction on panoramic radiography (Pell and Gregory classification). Exclusion criteria encompassed active systemic illness (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, renal or hepatic disease), known hypersensitivity or contraindication to corticosteroids, current use of systemic corticosteroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, pregnant or lactating women, active pericoronitis or acute pericoronal infection at the surgical site, active peptic ulcer disease, immunocompromised status, and tobacco or alcohol use disorder. Patients who required general anaesthesia or sedation were also excluded

Group A: Dexamethasone 8 mg administered locally into pterygomandibular 20 minutes before surgical extraction, plus an oral placebo capsule identical in appearance to the prednisone capsule. Group B : Patients received prednisone 40 mg orally 60 minutes before surgery, plus an intramuscular injection of normal saline (0.9% NaCl, 2 mL) in an identical syringe to maintain blinding.

Primary: facial edema at Day 2, Day 5, Day 7 Secondary: VAS pain score (0–10), trismus

Eligible participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio using a computer-generated random number sequence (www.randomizer.org), with allocation concealment maintained through sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes prepared by an independent statistician not involved in patient care or outcome assessment

Eligible participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio using a computer-generated random number sequence (www.randomizer.org), with allocation concealment maintained through sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes prepared by an independent statistician not involved in patient care or outcome assessment

Comparative Efficacy of Dexamethasone Versus Prednisone in the Prevention of Post-Operative Edema, Pain, and Trismus Following Mandibular Third Molar Surgery

for good after the publication

Dr Tehmina Maryam

Data will be shared with researchers who provide a scientifically sound proposal for a purpose consistent with participant consent and IRB approval, subject to a data access agreement and no attempt at re-identification.

tehminamaryam27@gmail.com

Data will be shared with researchers who submit a written request to the corresponding author, including a scientifically sound proposal; requests will be reviewed for consistency with participant consent and IRB approval, and a data access/use agreement will be signed before de-identified data are released.