The effectiveness of kinesio taping in edema-reducing treatment for fractures of the lower jaw

Aim. To assess the effect of Kinesio taping on edema reduction among the patients with fractures of the mandible (lower jaw) in the early postsurgical period of osteosynthesis.

Methods. Patients with unilateral mandibular angle fractures with displacement of fragments (49 men at the age of 18–50 years), divided into 2 groups: the main group — 26 patients (with the inclusion of Kinesio taping in the complex of treatment) and the control group — 23 patients (the traditional complex of treatment). All patients underwent splinting of the jaw and miniplate osteosynthesis. Kinesio tapes were applied the next day after surgery to the skin above and below the surgical wound. Three out of five standard landmarks were used to measure edema on the 1st and 5th days after osteosynthesis. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and Student's test. In all cases, the level of statistical significance was 5% (p ≤0.05).

Results. On the day after osteosynthesis, the patients of the main group showed a statistically significant (р <0.003) increase in the measured length for all three landmarks compared with the intact side due to pronounced postoperative edema. On the 5th day after the inclusion of Kinesio taping in the complex of treatment, there was a reduction in edema — the indicators of the fractured and intact sides did not differ significantly from each other (р >0.05). In patients of the comparison group, the decrease in the parameters of postoperative edema on the 5th day of observation was negligible and insignificant in all measurements (р >0.05).

Conclusion. The results indicate the effectiveness of using Kinesio taping for mandibular fractures in the early postoperative period of osteosynthesis, which makes it possible to achieve a significant reduction in postoperative edema; Kinesio taping is a promising, easy-to-perform method that can be used to reduce inflammatory edema in fractures of the mandible.