The Effects of Kinesio Tapeing on Facial Swelling Following Bimaxillary Orthognathic Surgery.

NCT07764731 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: BRX project
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 36
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this prospective clinical trial is to evaluate the additive therapeutic efficacy of Kinesio taping combined with routine post-surgical cryotherapy in reducing acute postoperative facial edema and pain in adult patients undergoing bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does the application of compression Kinesio taping significantly reduce post-surgical facial edema compared to standard postoperative care alone? Does Kinesio taping provide additional pain relief and functional recovery during the early acute postoperative phase when compared with standard compression taping? Researchers will compare patients receiving bilateral Kinesio taping alongside standard postoperative cryotherapy to a control group receiving standard postoperative cryotherapy alongside standard compression taping to see if Kinesio taping taping provides a superior or additive effect in decreasing edema and alleviating pain. Participants will: Undergo bimaxillary orthognathic surgery under a standardized surgical protocol. Receive routine postoperative cold/cryotherapy application as part of baseline care. Randomly, have Kinesio tape applied immediately postoperatively using a compression taping approach (intervention group) or receive standard rigid compression taping (control group). Undergo standardized facial swelling and pain assessments at pre-determined postoperative follow-up intervals.

Conditions

Orthognathic Surgery; Bimaxillar Surgery; Kinesio Taping; Swelling; Pain; Pain Management; Quality of Life

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (6)

• Facial edema

  Edema evaluation was performed using a standard flexible plastic tape measure (accuracy ±0.5 mm). Seven linear facial distances were recorded bilaterally and the sum of both sides was used for analysis.

  Immediately after surgery and post-op day 2

• Postoperative pain

  Postoperative pain intensity was assessed using a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS). The scale was anchored by "no pain" at one end and "the worst pain imaginable" at the other. Participants were instructed to mark the point on the line that best represented their current level of postoperative pain. The distance between the "no pain" anchor and the participant's mark was measured and converted to a score ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater pain intensity.

  Immediately after surgery and post-op day 2

• Facial edema

  Edema evaluation was performed using a standard flexible plastic tape measure (accuracy ±0.5 mm). Seven linear facial distances were recorded bilaterally and the sum of both sides was used for analysis.

  Post-op day 2 and post-op day 5

• Postoperative pain

  Postoperative pain intensity was assessed using a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS). The scale was anchored by "no pain" at one end and "the worst pain imaginable" at the other. Participants were instructed to mark the point on the line that best represented their current level of postoperative pain. The distance between the "no pain" anchor and the participant's mark was measured and converted to a score ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater pain intensity.

  Post-op day 2 and post-op day 5

• Facial edema

  Edema evaluation was performed using a standard flexible plastic tape measure (accuracy ±0.5 mm). Seven linear facial distances were recorded bilaterally and the sum of both sides was used for analysis.

  Post-op day 5 and post-op day 7

• Postoperative pain

  Postoperative pain intensity was assessed using a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS). The scale was anchored by "no pain" at one end and "the worst pain imaginable" at the other. Participants were instructed to mark the point on the line that best represented their current level of postoperative pain. The distance between the "no pain" anchor and the participant's mark was measured and converted to a score ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater pain intensity.

  Post-op day 5 and post-op day 7

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Oral health-related quality of life

  Immediately after surgery and post-op day 2

• Oral health-related quality of life

  Post-op day 2 and post-op day 5

• Oral health-related quality of life

  Post-op day 5 and post-op day 7

Study Arms (2)

Kinesio tape

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm received bilateral facial Kinesio taping using standard 5-cm wide elastic tape in addition to routine postoperative care. The tape was applied immediately following surgery using the mechanical correction technique with a tension of approximately 75%-100% across the correction area, while the anchors were placed with no tension (0%). The tape strips followed anatomical landmarks along the postoperative facial region. On the third postoperative day, the initial tape was removed, the skin was inspected for potential adverse reactions (e.g., redness, irritation, itching, or blistering), and a new set of tape strips were applied following the same protocol. The Kinesio taping was maintained for a total duration of seven consecutive days.

Other: Kinesio tape

Rigid compression taping

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this arm received bilateral rigid compression taping over the postoperative facial region immediately following surgery. The tape strips followed the same anatomical landmarks along the postoperative facial region. The tape tension was adjusted manually by a trained physiotherapist to provide firm compression and support while avoiding excessive pressure, circulatory impairment, respiratory restriction, or marked discomfort. The rigid compression tape was replaced on the third postoperative day, and the facial skin was inspected for potential adverse reactions such as redness, irritation, or pressure marks. The rigid compression taping was maintained for a total treatment duration of seven days.

Other: Rigid compression taping

Interventions

Kinesio tape OTHER

Participants allocated to the kinesiotaping group received bilateral facial taping using kinesiotaping with a standard width of 5 cm.

Kinesio tape

Rigid compression taping OTHER

Participants allocated to the comparison group received bilateral rigid compression taping over the postoperative facial region.

Rigid compression taping

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Individuals older than 18 years of age.
• Patients scheduled to undergo elective bimaxillary orthognathic surgery

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals receiving regular medication.
• Individuals with a diagnosed mental disorder.
• Individuals with coagulopathy.
• Individuals with diabetes mellitus.
• Individuals with a chronic infection.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Melek Volkan Yazici: lead

Study Sites (1)

Ankara University, Faculty of Dentistry

Ankara, Cankaya, 06560, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pain; Agnosia

Interventions

Athletic Tape

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Perceptual Disorders; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Bandages; Equipment and Supplies; Orthotic Devices; Orthopedic Equipment; Surgical Equipment

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assoc Prof.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 10, 2026
• First Posted: August 14, 2026
• Study Start: June 3, 2024
• Primary Completion: June 30, 2026
• Study Completion: June 30, 2026
• Last Updated: August 14, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)