Incidence and risk factor analysis for swelling after apical microsurgery

Area of Science:

• Endodontics
• Oral Surgery
• Postoperative Care

Background:

• Postoperative swelling is a common sequela of apical microsurgery.
• This swelling can negatively impact patient quality of life during the healing period.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and severity of periapical swelling following apical microsurgery.
• To identify potential risk factors associated with this postoperative swelling.

Main Methods:

• Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) was used to measure bone shadow volume and pathological tissue density preoperatively.
• Patient data including age, gender, operative tooth, fistula presence, preoperative swelling, drug use, and prior root canal treatments were collected.
• Postoperative swelling was assessed using patient questionnaires on days 1, 7, 14, and 21.

Main Results:

• Most patients experienced moderate to severe swelling on postoperative day 1, decreasing to mild or no swelling by day 14.
• Swelling intensity peaked on day 1 and gradually subsided.
• Age, preoperative bone shadow volume, and pathological tissue density were significant predictors of swelling (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Younger age, larger bone shadow volume, and higher pathological tissue density are associated with increased periapical swelling after apical microsurgery.
• Factors such as gender, tooth number, fistula, preoperative swelling, drug use, and prior root canal treatments did not significantly predict swelling.