Comparative study of the effect of tube drain on impacted mandibular third molar surgery

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of tube drain in relation to pain, swelling and trismus variables following the surgical removal of bilateral impacted mandibular third molars.

In this study 40 patients (20 males and 20 females) with bilateral impacted mandibular third molars with the same degree of difficulty (ascertained by the WHARFE index) were divided into experimental (with tube drain) and control groups (no drain). Surgical procedures were planned with a minimum interval of 15 days between the two surgical procedures. One suture procedure was accomplished using a drain and other was closed primarily using 3-0 silk sutures. The second surgery was carried out only after complete resolution of pain, swelling and trismus associated with the first surgical procedure (approximately 15 days).

Although minor differences in pain were noted between the two groups on postoperative days 3 and 7, the differences were not statistically significant. According to this analysis, in the control group (without tube drain), facial swelling was higher on postoperative days 3 and 7 as compared to the experimental group (with tube drain). In addition the swelling in both groups disappeared completely in 15 days. All patients returned to the presurgical status on the 15th day after surgery. The interincisal opening using a tube drain was less on postoperative day 1 and more on postoperative days 3 and 7 as compared to without using a tube drain and was reduced to normal on postoperative day 15. However, statistically there were no significant differences between both groups.

The results of this study suggested that there is no difference in pain and IIO in the control and experimental groups; however, swelling (facial edema) was significantly reduced on postoperative days 3 and 7 in the tube drain group.