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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
A Postoperative Evaluation Guideline for Computer-Assisted Reconstruction of the Mandible
Published on: January 28, 2020
Classification of postoperative edema based on the anatomic division with mandibular third molar extraction
Yeong Kon Jeong1, Jeong-Kui Ku2, Sung Hyun Baik3
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Section of Dentistry, Armed Forces Capital Hospital, Armed Forces Medical Command, Saemaul-ro 117, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, 13634, Republic of Korea.
Purpose:
Several investigations have been performed for a postoperative edema after extraction, but the results have been controversial due to low objectivity or poorly reproducible assessments of the edema. The aim of this study was to suggest a classification and patterns of postoperative edema according to the anatomical division associated with extraction of mandibular third molar as a qualitative evaluation method.
Methods:
This study was conducted forty-four mandibular third molars extracted and MRI was taken within 48 h after extraction. The postoperative edema space was classified by MRI (one anatomic component-buccinator muscle-and four fascial spaces-supra-periosteum space, buccal space, parapharyngeal space, and lingual space), and evaluated independently by two examiners. The inter-examiner reliability was calculated using Kappa statistics.
Results:
The evaluation of buccinator muscle edema showed good agreement and the fascial spaces showed constant high agreement. The incidence of postoperative edema was high in the following order: supra-periosteum space (75.00%), buccinator muscle (68.18%), parapharyngeal space (54.55%), buccal space (40.91%), and lingual space (25.00%).
Conclusion:
Postoperative edema could be assessed clearly by each space, which showed a different tendency between the anatomic and fascial spaces.
