Three-dimensional evaluation of early facial edema after orthognathic surgery: a split-face comparison of two Kinesio...

Postoperative facial edema is a predictable consequence of orthognathic surgery. This study aimed to quantitatively compare the effectiveness of supraclavicular lymphatic and epidermis-dermis-fascia (EDF) kinesiotaping (KT) techniques in reducing early facial edema following orthognathic surgery using a three-dimensional volumetric, split-face design.

Conducted at Başkent University Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, 15 Class III patients who underwent bimaxillary orthognathic surgery received EDF taping on one hemiface and supraclavicular lymphatic taping on the contralateral side. Three-dimensional facial models were acquired preoperatively (T0) and on postoperative days 2 (T1) and 7 (T2) via smartphone-based structured-light photogrammetry. Rigid surface registration and standardized malar-masseteric segmentation enabled volumetric computation across timepoints.

Paired comparisons were used to assess early postoperative changes (T1-T0), total changes (T2-T0), and interval recovery (T2-T1). At T1, EDF taping resulted in significantly less edema than lymphatic taping did (ΔT1-T0 = -22.230 mm³; Holm-adjusted P = .020), indicating a meaningful early postoperative advantage. By T2, the volumetric reduction observed at earlier time points remained evident, indicating a sustained effect over time (ΔT2-T0 = -2.545 mm³).

Although supraclavicular lymphatic KT is more commonly used in clinical practice, the present findings suggest that EDF taping provide superior modulation of facial edema following orthognathic surgery, particularly during the early recovery phase.