Controlled cryotherapy and kinesiology taping for postoperative facial oedema following orthognathic surgery in class III malocclusion : a smartphone-based three-dimensional volumetric study

Purpose: Post-operative facial swelling is a condition that brings discomfort to the patient following orthognathic surgery. This prospective study aimed to assess and compare the effectiveness of kinesiology taping (KT), cryotherapy, their combination, and no treatment in reducing postoperative swelling. A cost-free, smartphone-based three-dimensional (3D) scanning workflow was employed for volumetric analysis. Methods: 75 patients with Class III malocclusion underwent bimaxillary osteotomies and divided into five groups: No Treatment, KT alone, Hilotherapy alone, and KT combined with Hilotherapy and no intervention. High-resolution LiDAR scans were acquired at 1 h (T0), 72 h (T1), 7 days (T2), and 30 days (T3) postoperatively. Volumetric changes were quantified using 3D Slicer software. Secondary outcomes included pain intensity (10 cm visual analogue scale, VAS) and maximal interincisal distance (IID). Results: A significant interaction was observed between treatment modality and time for facial volume reduction (p < 0.01). All active treatments demonstrated superior outcomes compared to no treatment, with the combined therapy yielding the most significant reduction (p < 0.01). Pain and IID followed similar patterns of improvement. Conclusion: The combination of controlled mild hypothermia and lymphatic-stimulating taping appears to synergistically enhance the resolution of postoperative oedema following orthognathic surgery. Smartphone-based 3D facial scanning represents a reliable and low-cost method for objective soft tissue monitoring.