Comparative Evaluation of Immediate Post- Operative Sequelae after Surgical Removal of Impacted Mandibular Third Molar with or without Tube Drain - Split-Mouth Study

INTRODUCTION: Third molar surgery is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in general dentistry. Post-operative variables such as pain, swelling and trismus are major concerns after impacted mandibular third molar surgery. Use of passive tube drain is supposed to help reduce these immediate post-operative sequelae. The current study was designed to compare the effect of tube drain on immediate post-operative sequelae following impacted mandibular third molar surgery. AIM: To compare the post-operative sequelae after surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molar surgery with or without tube drain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with bilateral impacted mandibular third molars were divided into two groups: Test (with tube drain) and control (without tube drain) group. In the test group, a tube drain was inserted through the releasing incision, and kept in place for three days. The control group was left without a tube drain. The post-operative variables like, pain, swelling, and trismus were calculated after 24 hours, 72 hours, 7 days, and 15 days in both the groups and analyzed statistically using chi-square and t-test analysis. RESULTS: The test group showed lesser swelling as compared to control group, with the swelling variable showing statistically significant difference at post-operative day 3 and 7 (p≤ 0.05) in both groups. There were no statistically significant differences in pain and trismus variables in both the groups. CONCLUSION: The use of tube drain helps to control swelling following impacted mandibular third molar surgery. However, it does not have much effect on pain or trismus.