Kinesio Taping vs Rigid Compression Taping Following Bimaxillary Orthognathic Surgery

NCT07833540 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: 2024-295TSG-2024-3459
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 36
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Postoperative facial swelling and pain are common complications following corrective jaw surgery (bimaxillary orthognathic surgery). This randomized controlled trial aimed to determine whether elastic therapeutic taping (Kinesio taping) applied using a mechanical correction technique is more effective than standard rigid compression taping in reducing acute postoperative pain and facial swelling. The study also evaluated changes in oral health-related quality of life. A total of 36 adult patients undergoing elective bimaxillary orthognathic surgery were randomly assigned into two equal groups (18 participants per group): Kinesio Taping Group: Participants received bilateral elastic Kinesio taping applied with a mechanical correction technique. Rigid Compression Taping Group: Participants received bilateral rigid compression taping over the surgical facial area. Both taping applications were initiated immediately following surgery and maintained for 7 days, with tape replacement on the third postoperative day. All participants received identical standardized postoperative medication and cryotherapy protocols. Pain intensity was measured using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) across 7 days, facial swelling was assessed through bilateral landmark tape measurements across 7 days, and quality of life was evaluated using the Orthognathic Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ) through 3 weeks post-surgery.

Conditions

Orthognathic Surgery; Postoperative Pain; Edema

Keywords

Kinesio Taping; Compression Taping; Bimaxillary Orthognathic Surgery

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Postoperative Pain Intensity

  Pain intensity was evaluated using a 100-mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS), where 0 represents "no pain" and 100 represents "the worst imaginable pain" (higher scores indicate greater pain intensity). Evaluated at 6, 12, 24 hours and days 2, 3, and 7 post-surgery.

  Postoperative hours 6, 12, 24, and postoperative days 2, 3, and 7

• Facial Edema

  Facial edema was quantified using a flexible millimeter tape across seven standardized bilateral linear facial reference distances: tragus-labial commissure, tragus-pogonion, tragus-lateral canthus, gonion-lateral canthus, gonion-nasion, gonion-pogonion, and tragus-nasal alar crest (measured in millimeters; increases reflect greater facial edema). Evaluated preoperatively, immediately after surgery, and on days 2, 5, and 7 post-surgery.

  Preoperative baseline, immediately postoperative, and postoperative days 2, 5, and 7

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Oral Health-Related Quality of Life

  Preoperative baseline, and postoperative weeks 1 and 3

Study Arms (2)

Kinesio Taping Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants received bilateral facial Kinesio taping (standard width 5 cm) applied using the mechanical correction technique with 75%-100% tension in the correction zone. Taping was applied immediately after orthognathic surgery, renewed on postoperative day 3, and maintained for 7 days alongside standardized postoperative medication and cryotherapy protocols.

Other: Kinesio Taping

Rigid Compression Taping Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants received bilateral rigid compression taping applied firmly over the postoperative facial region to provide mechanical compression and support. Taping was applied immediately after orthognathic surgery, renewed on postoperative day 3, and maintained for 7 days alongside standardized postoperative medication and cryotherapy protocols.

Other: Rigid Compression Taping

Interventions

Kinesio Taping OTHER

Bilateral facial application of 5-cm wide elastic Kinesio tape using the mechanical correction technique with 75%-100% tension in the correction area and no tension at the anchors. Applied immediately after bimaxillary orthognathic surgery, renewed on postoperative day 3, and maintained for 7 days alongside standardized postoperative medication and cryotherapy protocols.

Kinesio Taping Group

Rigid Compression Taping OTHER

Bilateral non-elastic rigid compression taping applied firmly over the postoperative facial region to provide mechanical compression and support without impairing circulation or respiration. Applied immediately after bimaxillary orthognathic surgery, renewed on postoperative day 3, and maintained for 7 days alongside standardized postoperative medication and cryotherapy protocols.

Rigid Compression Taping Group

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Age older than 18 years Scheduled to undergo elective bimaxillary orthognathic surgery consisting of Le Fort I maxillary osteotomy and bilateral sagittal split osteotomy of the mandible Provided written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Receiving regular medication Diagnosed mental disorder Coagulopathy Diabetes mellitus Chronic infection

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Gazi University: lead
• Ankara University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Ankara University, Faculty of Dentistry

Ankara, Ankara, 06560, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pain, Postoperative; Edema

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Postoperative Complications; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Gamze Cobanoglu, Asst. Prof.

  Gazi University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: Due to visible differences between elastic Kinesio tape and rigid compression tape, participants, the treating physiotherapist, and the outcome assessor could not be blinded to group allocation. The surgical team remained unaware of group allocation during the surgical procedure because the interventions were applied only after surgery was completed
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Model Details: Participants undergoing bimaxillary orthognathic surgery were allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive either bilateral Kinesio taping or rigid compression taping. Both taping applications were maintained for 7 days alongside standardized postoperative medical therapy and cryotherapy

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 16, 2026
• First Posted: September 22, 2026
• Study Start: December 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: June 30, 2026
• Study Completion: June 30, 2026
• Last Updated: September 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)