ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the split-box technique, a novel technique that combines the ridge splitting and split bone block techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, alveolar ridge defects were grafted using the split-box technique and its modifications, reverse split box and sliding split box. To determine horizontal changes in the alveolar bone, thickness was measured at two levels: crest width (CW) and screw level width (SLW). Alveolar ridge height (ARH) was also measured to detect a possible loss of vertical dimension. Measurements were performed using cone-beam computed tomography taken before the operation (T0) and at five months after the operation (T1). RESULTS: Of a total of 41 patients included, 21 were females and 20 were males with a mean age of 44.5 ± 13.3 years. A total of 64 regions were augmented. Among the augmented regions, split-box technique was used in 31 regions, reverse split-box technique was used in 14 regions, and sliding split-box technique was used in 19 regions. The increase at the SLW, CW and the decrease in ARH from T0 to T1 was statistically significant (p < 0.005). A significant difference was found between split box and its modifications in terms of bone gain at the screw level, and the sliding box technique was associated with more bone gain than the other two methods (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Split-box technique provides a comparable net gain in the alveolar crest width with lower complication risk than ridge split technique and lower postoperative morbidity than split bone block technique.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Early identification of patients who are prone to postoperative pain may provide individualization of postoperative analgesia strategies. PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to investigate whether the cold pack test is associated with postoperative pain levels after mandibular third molar surgery. STUDY DESIGN, SETTING, SAMPLE: This prospective cohort study included healthy male patients admitted to Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of a tertiary health-care center between June 2022 and December 2022 and scheduled for lower third molar extraction. Those who had used any analgesic within the past 10 days or had a history of intolerance/allergy to analgesics were excluded. PREDICTOR VARIABLE: The primary predictor variable was pain tolerance, measured using the endurance test score. Subjects were grouped into two categories, low tolerance test score (withdrew the hand from the cold pack in <240 seconds) and high tolerance test score (maintained the hand on the cold pack for 240 seconds). MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLES: The primary outcome variable was pain measured by the patients from 0 to 10 with the visual analog scale, and the secondary outcome variables were the amount of ibuprofen and paracetamol consumed in the postoperative period. Pain measurements and ibuprofen consumption were recorded at 0-2, 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 72, 80, 88, and 96 hours (0-2 interval of the first 2 hours immediately after surgery). COVARIATES: Age, classification and position of mandibular third molar were utilized as covariates. ANALYSES: The relationship between pain tolerance and postoperative pain was analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test and the Fisher exact test. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS version 28.0 software. RESULTS: A total of 30 male patients with a mean age of 22.5 ± 4.8 years were included in our study. In the group with low pain tolerance, the pain scores at the first 2 hours, 32, and 48 hours after the operation (4.55 ± 3.59, 2.91 ± 2.59, 2.91 ± 2.43, respectively) were found to be significantly higher than the group with high pain tolerance (2.00 ± 2.67, 0.95 ± 1.68, 0.95 ± 1.39, respectively) (P < .05). In the first 2 hours after the operation, the amount of ibuprofen consumed was also significantly higher in the group with low pain tolerance compared to the other group, and 81.8% of this group felt the need to consume ibuprofen (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The cold pack test, a more practical version of quantitative sensory testing, is useful in identifying male patients at risk of developing greater pain after third molar surgery. It can be helpful to provide effective analgesia in male patients with different pain tolerance thresholds.
