Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a topical 0.2% hyaluronic acid (HA) preparation in the management of wound after removal of arch bar for facial bone fracture and a suture site after orthognatic, oral cancer or oral surgery. Forty patients participated in a randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind trial to evaluate the efficacy of the topical HA and preparation. HA topically applied to the wound after removal of arch bar or stitch out, 3 times a day for 4 weeks. Evaluation is performed once a week for 4 weeks. For subjective evaluation, relative pain reduction in visual analog scale (VAS) and existence of heat sensation was accessed. For objective evaluation, gross evaluation, papilla index, existence of wound dehiscence, redness and swelling was checked. The same evaluation was performed in each arch bar group and suture group. For whole subject, 0.2% HA group resulted higher reduction than placebo group in pain of site in first week with significancy. Same findings were seen other weeks but there was no significancy. 0.2% HA group had better result than placebo in objective evaluation (papilla index, wound dehiscence, redness and swelling), but in gross evaluation placebo had better result than 0.2% HA group with no significancy. Subject was divided into suture group and arch bar group. Same aspect was seen, but only suture group had significancy not arch bar group in pain reduction score. 0.2% HA group resulted higher reduction than placebo group in pain of site in first week with significancy, especially in suture group. It reveals topical application of HA in wound especially suture site reduced pain in early stage. And 0.2% HA group had better result than placebo in papilla index, redness and swelling with no statistical significancy. In conclusion, HA has effect of pain reduction and healing promotion in the mucosal wound after oral surgery.