Evaluation of the efficacy of topical rifamycin application on postoperative complications after lower impacted wisdom teeth surgery

Levent Cigerim; Zeynep Dilan Orhan; Volkan Kaplan; Saadet Cinarsoy Cigerim; Erkan Feslihan

doi:10.1016/j.jormas.2023.101501

Evaluation of the efficacy of topical rifamycin application on postoperative complications after lower impacted wisdom teeth surgery

J Stomatol Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2023 May 11:101501. doi: 10.1016/j.jormas.2023.101501. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Levent Cigerim¹, Zeynep Dilan Orhan², Volkan Kaplan³, Saadet Cinarsoy Cigerim⁴, Erkan Feslihan⁵

Affiliations

¹ Associate Professor, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey.
² Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Faculty of Dentistry, Van, Turkey.
³ Associate Professor, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tekirdag Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey.
⁴ Assistant Professor, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics, Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey.
⁵ Assistant Professor, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tekirdag Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag 59030, Turkey. Electronic address: erkanfeslihan@gmail.com.

PMID: 37178873
DOI: 10.1016/j.jormas.2023.101501

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a single-dose topical rifamycin application on postoperative complications after impacted lower third molar surgery.

Materials and methods: This prospective, controlled clinical study consisted of individuals with bilaterally impacted lower third molars that would be extracted for orthodontic reasons. The extraction sockets were irrigated with 3 ml/250 mg of rifamycin solution in Group 1, while in Group 2 (control group) the extraction sockets were irrigated with 20 ml of physiological saline. Pain intensity was measured daily for 7 days by using visual analog scale. Trismus and edema were evaluated preoperatively and on the postoperative days 2 and 7 by calculating the proportional changes in maximum mouth opening and mean distance between reference points of the face, respectively. Paired samples t-test, Wilcoxon signed rank test and Chi-square test were used to analyze the study variables.

Results: 35 patients (19 female, 16 male) were included in the study. The mean age of all participants was 22.19±4.98. Alveolitis was observed in 8 patients, (6 in the control group, 2 in the rifamycin group). There was no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of trismus and swelling measurements on the 2nd and 7th postoperative days (p>0.05). VAS scores were significantly low in rifamycin group on postoperative days 1 and 4 (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Within the limits of the present study, topical rifamycin application reduced the incidence of alveolitis, prevented infection, and provided analgesic effect after surgical removal of impacted third molars.

Keywords: Edema; Impacted lower third molar; Oral surgery; Pain; Rifamycin; Trismus.