COMPARISON OF SYSTEMIC CURCUMIN AND INTRALESIONAL STEROID INJECTIONS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ORAL SUBMUCOUS FIBROSIS: A CLINICAL STUDY

Objective: To compare the efficacy of curcumin to intralesional steroid injections in the treatment of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF). Study design: Forty patients with clinically and histologically proven OSMF were divided into 2 groups. Group I patients were given oral administration of 2 capsules of curcumin 300mg once daily for 3 months. Group II patients were given weekly intralesional injections of a combination of dexamethasone and hyaluronidase for six weeks and antioxidant capsules (Cap. SM Fibro - Alpha lipoic acid 50mg, Beta-carotene 10mg, Elemental copper 1mg, Elemental selenium 75mcg, Lycopene 5mg, Vitamin E 10 IU, Zinc sulphate 27.45mg) once daily for 3 months. Patients were assessed for burning sensation, inter incisal distance, cheek flexibility and tongue protrusion at an interval of every 15 days for 3 months. Physiotherapy for mouth opening was advised twice daily for 6 weeks in both the groups and assessed in each visit. Results: Both curcumin group and intralesional injection group showed reduction in burning sensation with p<0.05 which was statistically significant at 75 days. Statistically significant improvement was noted in inter incisal distance, cheek flexibility and tongue protrusion at 30 days and 75 days of the study period in the both the groups. Conclusion: Curcumin capsule is effective, safe and alternative treatment modality in OSMF.