Comparative evaluation of buccal pad of fat with and without bovine collagen membrane in the management of oral submucous fibrosis: A prospective clinical study

BACKGROUND: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a chronic, debilitating disease characterized by juxtaepithelial fibrosis. The present study evaluates the efficacy of buccal fat pad (BFP) and bovine collagen membrane as reconstruction options. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample size includes 22 patients between 20 and 60 years, randomly distributed in two groups: Group I in which BFP was used and Group II where BFP with bovine collagen membrane was used after surgical resection of fibrotic bands. The clinical evaluation on postoperative 1(st), 3(rd), and 5(th) days and 1(st), 2(nd), 3(rd), 4(th), 12(th), and 24(th) weeks subsequently. RESULTS: The mean age in Group I was 27.17 ± 3.157 years and Group II was 37.90 ± 6.657 years. The mean preoperative mouth opening was 9.75 ± 6.717 and 8.90 ± 3.784 mm in Groups I and II, respectively. The mean duration of presenting illness in Group I was 9.75 ± 2.598 years and in Group II was 8.80 ± 1.989 years. There was no significant difference observed between Groups I and II in relation to reduced mouth opening and duration of symptoms (P > 0.05) except for age. No significant difference was observed between both the groups in relation to preoperative pain, burning sensation, cheek stiffness, mucosal suppleness, postoperative infection, and postoperative pain at days 1 and 5 and 1(st) week. There was a significant difference observed in postoperative pain among both the groups on the 3(rd) day and 2(nd) week. CONCLUSION: In the present study, both the groups have proved to give better results, as BFP in the form of interposition material showed rapid epithelization and minimum wound contracture.