The role of triamcinolone acetonide and hyaluronidase injection in minimizing labial scarring and improving peri-oral function following intraoral vestibular incisions.

Surgical procedures involving the maxillofacial skeleton require various incisions for exposure of surgical site. The most preferred approach is intra-oral, using a vestibular incision, for cosmetic reasons. However, this incision is associated with multiple complications such as infection, wound dehiscence, swelling, trismus and scarring. The fibrosis associated with vestibular incision specifically presents the following clinical problems; (1) impairment of normal lip movements (2) obliteration of vestibular depth which compromises prosthetic rehabilitationand (3) fibrotic bands  especially in the anterior region, compromising the lower facial esthetics. Numerous methods have been employed to facilitate intraoral wound healing namely, cyano-acrylate based tissue adhesive, hyaluronic acid film, Pentoxifylline and injection of corticosteroids, hyaluronidase, & placentrix. However, there is a lacuna in literature regarding measures which prevent or minimize scarring associated with vestibular incision. The investigators of the study hypothesize that injection of triamcinolone acetonide & hyaluronic acid in the surgical site would reduce scarring associated with vestibular incision and improve lip function.