Debridement could be a solution to promote healing of established oral mucositis in children.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to present a novel approach to promote healing of established oral mucositis and to alleviate symptom clusters in a group of children who were on induction chemotherapy.


METHODS
A clinical prospective study.


METHODS
Children (40) diagnosed with Grade 3 or 4 oral mucositis were randomly assigned into two groups: In Group I (n=20), accumulated debris on ulcerations was removed (debridement); In Group II (n=20), subjects had no debridement. The condition of oral lesions, speech, lips, teeth, saliva, gingiva, and swallowing ability were examined 3 x week during the study. All subjects received the same oral care regimen. They were well balanced in respect of age, the type of antineoplastic treatment, and the number.


RESULTS
Debridement promoted resolution and decreased the severity of oral mucositis significantly. Thus, the subjects had less oral discomfort, pain, and nutritional difficulties.


METHODS
The data were entered in the SPSS 13.0 program, and the tests used were Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Shapiro-Wilk, Mann-Whitney, and Spearman's correlation coefficient with a 5% significance level.


CONCLUSIONS
Well-controlled, prospective clinical studies related to the management of established oral mucositis will lead to the development of potential interventions and improved patient care.
Cubukcu
C E
CE
Dept Paediatric Dental Care, Uludağ University, Medical Faculty, Bursa, Turkey. dcelbek@yahoo.com
Sevinir
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003646:Debridement; D003679:Deglutition / Q000187:drug effects; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008047:Lip Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D019226:Oral Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012463:Saliva / Q000187:drug effects; D013060:Speech / Q000187:drug effects; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000601:surgery*; D014070:Tooth / Q000187:drug effects; D014945:Wound Healing