Volumetric changes in the size of odontogenic keratocysts after decompression followed by enucleation, peripheral ostectomy, and Carnoy's solution: A retrospective study.

The study aimed to retrospectively analyze the reduction pattern of odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) after decompression, followed by enucleation (EN), peripheral ostectomy (PO), and Carnoy's solution (CS) to establish the appropriate time for inserting implants, along with assessing the long-term success of conservative treatment with adjunctive therapy. The predictable variables were the reduction pattern and the study's treatment option. The outcome variable was the volumetric changes in the size of bony defects. These changes were determined using a percentage difference and a reduction rate. They were recorded after decompression and one, three, six, twelve, and eighteen months after EN. P-values of .05 were considered significant. The study included 66 patients with 71 OKCs. Males, younger ages, and mandibular OKCs significantly predominated. The decompression significantly changed the initial volume from 135.40 ± 1.2 cm3 to 101.55 ± 0.1 cm3 with 28.6 percentage difference and 25% reduction rate. At the end of the first and third months after EN, the reduction pattern is 50.0%-75.5% of the initial volume, with no significant prediction for the direction of the reduction pattern. After 18 months, all bony defects disappeared, with no recurrences for the next 18 years. In conclusion, the reduction pattern is 75.5% of its initial volume at the end of the third month after OKC management. Therefore, within the limitations of the study, its treatment approach seems to be an option amongst other protocols that includes a view to early implant based dental rehabilitation.