Comparison of Submucosal Dexamethasone and Methylprednisolone in Postoperative Sequelae of Parasymphsis Fractures

Corticosteroids such as dexamethasone and methylprednisolone have been widely investigated in oral and maxillofacial surgery for their ability to reduce postoperative pain, edema, and trismus. Several randomized controlled trials have demonstrated significant benefit compared to placebo. For example, Hashim in 2020 reported mean VAS pain scores of 2.08 ± 0.92 with dexamethasone versus 3.43 ± 1.42 with placebo at 24 hours, and 0.50 ± 0.68 versus 2.23 ± 0.80 at 72 hours; edema scores were also lower (4.1 ± 1.43 vs. 6.0 ± 1.22 at 24 hours). Similarly, Mubeen in 2023 found that dexamethasone significantly reduced pain (2.16 ± 0.89 vs. 3.51 ± 1.23 at 24 hours) and edema (4.26 ± 1.42 vs. 5.38 ± 1.01 at 24 hours) compared to placebo in mandibular fracture patients. In contrast, Kandamani in 2022 showed that patients receiving submucosal methylprednisolone (40 mg Depomedrol) had significantly less pain, swelling, and trismus than controls at 48 and 72 hours (p < 0.05).In third molar surgery, Lim and Ngeow in 2017 observed that methylprednisolone produced significantly lower pain scores than placebo on POD 1 and 2, while dexamethasone also reduced pain but without statistical significance; both steroids, however, were equally effective in reducing swelling and trismus. Ayub and Fazal in 2022 further demonstrated that dexamethasone was superior to methylprednisolone in controlling trismus at 72 hours and swelling on postoperative days 1 and 2 (p < 0.005).

While these studies confirm the benefits of corticosteroids, none have directly compared dexamethasone and methylprednisolone in mandibular fractures, and most rely only on subjective outcomes such as VAS and facial measurements. To strengthen outcome assessment, Salgia in 2015 demonstrated that serum C-reactive protein (CRP) correlates directly with postoperative pain and inflammation, validating CRP as a reliable biomarker for quantifying the surgical inflammatory response.

To address these gaps, this double-blind randomized clinical trial will compare the effectiveness of submucosal dexamethasone (8 mg) and methylprednisolone (40 mg) in patients undergoing open reduction and internal fixation of isolated mandibular parasymphysis fractures. Pain and edema will be measured clinically at baseline, 24, and 72 hours, while serum CRP will be assessed as an objective biomarker of systemic inflammation. Analgesic consumption and adverse events will also be recorded. By combining subjective and objective outcomes, this study will provide robust evidence to guide the optimal corticosteroid choice in mandibular fracture management and contribute to evidence-based postoperative protocols.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients aged 18 to 40.
• Both Gender.
• Fracture less than a week old.
• Isolated mandibular parasymphysis fractures.

Exclusion criteria

• 1. Immunocompromised patients (due to increased risk of infection and complications).

• Patients experiencing acute pain from conditions such as pulpitis, abscesses, or other acute infections (to ensure that acute pain does not confound the study results).

• Patients reporting hypersensitivity to steroids (to avoid adverse reactions).

• Patients taking or requiring prophylactic antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs before surgery (to prevent confounding effects on study outcomes).

• Patients with a history of systemic steroid administration for 15 days (as this could affect the study's outcomes).

• Patients with chronic pain problems or mental disorders (to maintain consistency in response to treatment).

• Patients with comminuted fractures (to maintain consistency in fracture type).

• Pregnant or lactating women (to avoid potential risks to the fetus and nursing infant).

• Smokers who smoke at least 10 cigarettes per day for 2 years (to minimize the impact of smoking on healing and recovery).

ria: