Kinesio Taping for Managing Postoperative Sequelae of Mandibular Third Molar Impaction: A Prospective Clinical Study

Introduction: Lower third molar surgery is a common oral procedure often accompanied by postoperative complications, such as pain, swelling, trismus, and reduced quality of life (QoL). Despite the standard care with analgesics and antibiotics, these issues can persist, prompting the exploration of adjunctive therapies. Kinesio taping (KT; Kinesio Holding Corporation, Albuquerque, NM), widely used for over 15 years to alleviate pain and inflammation, offers a non-invasive option. This study investigated the efficacy of KT in enhancing recovery after mandibular third molar extraction. Materials and methods: This prospective clinical study was conducted over 18 months at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Teerthanker Mahaveer Dental College and Research Centre, Moradabad, India. A total of 36 patients aged 18-40 years with impacted mandibular third molars (Pederson Difficulty Index = 3-7; American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1) were allocated to two groups (n = 18 each) using a lottery method. Group 1 received analgesics and antibiotics only, while group 2 received analgesics, antibiotics, and KT applied extra-orally. KT was performed by a certified therapist from the clavicle to the infraorbital rim, with 20% tension, and was left in place for five days. Outcomes, including pain assessed via the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, swelling assessed via five-point measurements, trismus assessed via interincisal distance, and QoL assessed via short-form Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14), were evaluated preoperatively and on days one, three, and seven. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test, Friedman test, independent t-test, and repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) (p < 0.05). Results: The mean ages of group 1 (29.94 ± 6.38 years) and group 2 (27.72 ± 5.37 years) were comparable (p = 0.266). Pain was significantly lower in group 2 on day seven (2.22 ± 0.73 vs. 1.67 ± 0.77, p = 0.047). Swelling was reduced in group 2 on day one (13.71 mm vs. 12.65 mm, p = 0.001), but not on days three or seven (p > 0.05). Trismus showed no significant intergroup difference (p > 0.05), although intragroup improvement was observed (p < 0.05). QoL scores were significantly better in group 2 on days one (16.45 ± 3.45 vs. 9.56 ± 3.15, p = 0.001), three (11.25 ± 2.35 vs. 5.65 ± 2.34, p = 0.001), and seven (8.45 ± 2.15 vs. 3.45 ± 2.12, p = 0.001). Conclusion: KT effectively reduced early postoperative pain and swelling, and improved QoL following lower third molar surgery, although its impact on improvement in mouth opening was limited. These findings support KT as a valuable adjunct, warranting further large-scale blinded studies to optimize its application.