Effect of Intracapsular Pressure on Decompression Effectiveness.

Aim: The objective of this research was to analyse the correlation between intracapsular pressure and shrinkage rate of cystic lesion volume at different time points after decompression and to evaluate the relationship between the concentration of interleukin-1α (IL-1α) in cystic fluid and intracapsular pressure.

Methods: Fifty patients with jaw cystic lesions who underwent decompression were included. We measured the intracapsular pressure and IL-1α concentration in the cyst fluid. Moreover, we calculated the rate of shrinkage (RS) of cystic cavity volume at different time points. In addition, data on age, sex, preoperative cystic cavity volume, and lesion location were collected. Linear correlation analysis and variance analysis were used for statistical analysis.

Results: Fastest volume decline was observed between 0 and 3 months after surgery; the average RS was 45.71%. RS presented the second-fastest volume decline, with an average of 17.46%, and RS presented the slowest volume decline, with an average of 3.933%. A statistically significant difference in RS was observed amongst the 3 time points (P < .0001). RS was negatively correlated with intracapsular pressure (r = -0.6326, n = 50, P < .0001). A negative correlation between the preoperative cystic cavity volume and intracapsular pressure (r = -0.6384, n = 50, P < .001) was also observed. A significant positive correlation was observed between preoperative cystic cavity volume and RS (r = 0.611, n = 50, P < .0001). Moreover, a significant positive correlation was observed between the intracapsular pressure and IL-1α concentration in the cystic fluid (r = 0.03477, n = 50, P < .0001).

Conclusions: Intracapsular pressure and the preoperative volume were the factors that affected the RS during the first 3 months after surgery. Therefore, the effectiveness of decompression can be evaluated by the intracapsular pressure and preoperative volume.