Comparison of Therapeutic Efficacy of Placental Extract with Dexamethasone and Hyaluronic Acid with Dexamethasone for Oral Submucous Fibrosis - A Retrospective Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSMF) is a potentially malignant disease of the oral cavity associated with betel nut chewing. The management of OSMF has been a subject of controversy and no definitive and widely accepted treatment is currently available for this condition.

AIM: To retrospectively evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of two treatment regimens (placental extract with dexamethasone and hyaluronic acid with dexamethasone) for the treatment of OSMF.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of the patients diagnosed with OSMF were obtained from the departmental archives. A total of 25 records were selected and divided into two study groups based on the treatment regimens, as Group A (placental extract + dexamethasone) and Group B (hyaluronidase + dexamethasone). The records were studied for improvement in mouth opening and reduction in burning sensation. Descriptive statistics, paired t test and student's t test were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: In Group A and Group B, the average increase in mouth opening from baseline record to 8th week of treatment was 3.53±1.26mm and 3.65±1.42mm respectively and average decrease in burning sensation, noted by VAS scale, was 5.13±1.13 and 4.90 ±1.29 respectively. The pre- and post-treatment differences were found to be statistically significant for both the groups (p<0.001) and for both the treatment outcomes. When the average difference of the treatment outcomes was compared between the two study groups, no statistically significant difference was noted (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION: The results of the present study indicate that both the treatment regimens studied are equally effective in the treatment of oral submucous fibrosis.