The Role of Kinesio Tape Application on Blood Flow and Morbidity After Third Molar Tooth Extraction.

Background: The most common side effects of mandibular third molar operations are pain, edema, and trismus. Postoperative application of the kinesio tape (KT) may improve these side effects more rapidly by increasing blood flow.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to measure the effect of KT application on blood flow after mandibular third molar operation.

Study Design, Setting, Sample: This study was conducted as a single-center, parallel-arm, randomized study at Gaziantep University Faculty of Dentistry in 2023. Healthy patients who underwent mandibular third molar surgery were included in the study. Patients with chronic systemic diseases, pregnant women, and patients who did not attend the postoperative control appointment were excluded from the study.

Predictor Variable: The predictor variable was postoperative management. Patients were randomly assigned to the KT applied group or the control group.

Main Outcome Variables: The primary outcome variable was the assessment of blood flow. Secondary outcome variables were the assessment of pain, edema, and trismus, which are side effects of mandibular third molar tooth extraction. Blood flow was measured using the laser Doppler flowmetry device, pain was measured using the visual analog scale, edema was measured by averaging 5 lengths between 6 points determined on the face, and mouth opening was measured with calipers. Patients were evaluated preoperatively, postoperatively, on the second day, fourth day, and seventh day.

Covariates: Covariates were age, sex, and operation time.

Analyses: The conformity of numerical variables to normal distribution was evaluated by Shapiro-Wilk test. Although the change of the groups within themselves over time was tested by repeated measures analysis of variance, the comparison of the groups with each other at different time intervals was evaluated by student t-test. P < .05 was considered significant.

Results: The sample consisted of 87 subjects with a mean age of 23.33 years. Of the subjects, 44 (50.6%) were female and 43 (49.4%) were male, with 43 (49.4%) subjects in the KT group and 44 (50.6%) subjects in the control group. It was statistically significant that blood flow measurements were higher in the KT group at postoperative, day 2 and day 4 (P < .05). Pain scores were also lower and statistically significant in the KT group on days 2, 4, and 7 (P < .05). Edema measurements were lower on the fourth and seventh day in the KT group and showed a statistically significant difference (P < .05). Mouth opening was measured more on the second, fourth, and seventh days in the KT group and was found to be statistically significant (P < .05).

Conclusions And Relevance: The study results suggest that the KT application was associated with increased blood flow and minimized postoperative pain, edema, and trismus. We hypothesize that the therapeutic effect of the KT application is its effect on blood flow.