Comparison of Therapeutic Efficacy of Placental Extract with Dexamethasone and Hyaluronic Acid with Dexamethasone for Oral Submucous Fibrosis - A Retrospective Analysis.

INTRODUCTION

Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSMF) is a potentially malignant disease of the oral cavity associated with betel nut chewing. The management of OSMF has been a subject of controversy and no definitive and widely accepted treatment is currently available for this condition.

AIM: To retrospectively evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of two treatment regimens (placental extract with dexamethasone and hyaluronic acid with dexamethasone) for the treatment of OSMF.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The records of the patients diagnosed with OSMF were obtained from the departmental archives. A total of 25 records were selected and divided into two study groups based on the treatment regimens, as Group A (placental extract + dexamethasone) and Group B (hyaluronidase + dexamethasone). The records were studied for improvement in mouth opening and reduction in burning sensation. Descriptive statistics, paired t test and student's t test were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

In Group A and Group B, the average increase in mouth opening from baseline record to 8th week of treatment was 3.53±1.26mm and 3.65±1.42mm respectively and average decrease in burning sensation, noted by VAS scale, was 5.13±1.13 and 4.90 ±1.29 respectively. The pre- and post-treatment differences were found to be statistically significant for both the groups (p<0.001) and for both the treatment outcomes. When the average difference of the treatment outcomes was compared between the two study groups, no statistically significant difference was noted (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

The results of the present study indicate that both the treatment regimens studied are equally effective in the treatment of oral submucous fibrosis.