What is the outcome of an incision and drainage procedure in endodontic patients? A prospective, randomized, single-blind study

Incision and drainage (I&D) are mostly recommended treatment for the endodontic patients. However, there are no prospective endodontic studies to determine the outcome of an I&D procedure for swelling in healthy, endodontic patients. Therefore this randomized trial conducted by Hannah Beus et al showed that the patients who received a mock I&D procedure with mock drain placement had more success than patients who received I&D with drain placement.

There are no prospective endodontic investigations to define the result of an incision and drainage (I&D) method for swelling in healthy, endodontic cases. The randomized, prospective, single-blind study aimed to compare the postoperative course of I&D with drain placement with a mock I&D procedure with mock drain placement following endodontic debridement among the swollen emergency patients with necrotic pulp and symptomatic teeth.  

A total of 81 patients with clinical swelling obtained either penicillin or if allergic, clindamycin and following categorized into two groups; a mock I&D procedure with mock drain placement and I&D with drain placement. All the patients obtained an ibuprofen/acetaminophen combination and, if required, an opioid-containing escape medicine at the end of the appointment. Patients noted their medication use and pain for four days after the treatment. No or mild postoperative pain with no use of opioid-containing escape medicine was marked as the treatment success, determined using mixed model logistic regression.

A reduction in postoperative medication use and pain across the four days presented by both the groups. High success rates were noticed in mock I&D group (45%) as compared to I&D group (33%).  

The mock I&D procedure with mock drain placement presents more success than another method.