Efficacy of methylprednisolone injected into the masseter muscle following the surgical extraction of impacted lower third molars

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the efficacy of methylprednisolone, as a single 40-mg dose, injected into the masseter muscle upon completion of extraction of impacted lower third molars. A prospective, randomized cross-over study was made of 35 healthy patients. The difficulty of extraction was similar in all cases. The study group received 40 mg of methylprednisolone injected into the masseter muscle via the intrabuccal approach, immediately after suturing of the surgical wound. The control group received no intramuscular corticoid. Evaluations were made of postoperative pain, trismus and swelling. Oral aperture was measured, along with the following distances for the assessment of swelling: tragus–lip commissure, gonion–lip commissure and gonion–external canthus of the eye, before and 2 and 7 days after surgery. The patients administered methylprednisolone showed superior results after surgery in terms of oral aperture, pain and all the facial swelling parameters, with statistically significant differences versus the controls (p < 0.05). The results obtained show that 40 mg of methylprednisolone injected into the masseter muscle in the immediate postoperative period reduces swelling, trismus and pain.