ObjectivesThe purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of kinesio taping on pain and swelling after surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion.Material and MethodsA total of 21 (12 male and 9 female) patients with transverse maxillary deficiency were enrolled in the study. Kinesio taping (KT) was applied unilaterally in each patient, whereby sides of the face with KT application were included into the (a) KT group and the other sides were included into the (b) non-KT group. Changes in facial volume were evaluated on digital images using the 3dMD Face System. Pain scores were assessed at postoperative days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 using the visual analog scale (VAS). Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance and Mann Whitney U test were used for statistical analyses. ResultsSwelling was significantly lower in the KT group compared to the non-KT group from T0 to T1 (36.42 [SD 19.71] mm3 vs. 183.84 [SD 49.33] mm3) and was significantly greater in the non-KT group compared to the KT group from T0 to T2 (70.88 [SD 15.73] mm3 vs. 21.46 [SD 13.39] mm3) (P < 0.001 for both). The VAS scores were significantly lower in the KT group compared to the non-KT group at all time points (P < 0.05).ConclusionsThe application of kinesio taping after maxillofacial surgery reduced the pain and swelling in the postoperative period. Kinesio taping can be used as an alternative to other methods that are used for the reduction of postoperative complaints.

Background Many hospitals across Australia and New Zealand have implemented acute care surgery (ACS) models over the past decade, often with improved outcomes such as reductions in wait time to surgery, complications and length of stay. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of patients who underwent non‐elective appendicectomy and cholecystectomy and compare these with the results observed shortly after the implementation of an ACS model at our institution 10 years earlier. Methods A retrospective review of contemporary patients who underwent non‐elective appendicectomy and cholecystectomy compared with historical data was performed. Primary outcomes were wait time to surgery, surgical complications and length of stay. Results In the contemporary cohort, 263 patients underwent non‐elective appendicectomy over a 1‐year period compared with 226 patients in the historical cohort. The median wait time to surgery had increased (17.7 versus 9.6 h, P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in a composite end‐point of complications and readmissions (8.0% versus 9.3%, P = 0.61). The length of stay was unchanged. There was greater use of preoperative imaging and reduced overnight operating. For non‐elective cholecystectomies, 132 patients underwent this procedure in the contemporary cohort over a 2‐year period compared with 115 patients in the historical cohort. There were no significant differences in wait time to surgery (2 versus 1 day, P = 0.13) or complications (9.8% versus 8.7%, P = 0.75). The length of stay was unchanged. Conclusion The majority of improvements seen shortly following the implementation of an ACS model have been sustained after 10 years.