RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: In this study, the clinical effect of negative pressure drainage-assisted irrigation (NPDI) technique was evaluated in treating maxillofacial space infection (MSI) by comparing with traditional technique. METHOD: A prospective study was conducted in 58 patients with MSI. The patients were randomly divided into two groups based on different treatment techniques. Thirty patients receiving NPDI were included in NPDI group, and 28 patients receiving traditional technique were included in traditional group. Case data (gender, age, etiology, concurrent illness, diabetes, involved spaces, preoperative white cell count, airway control method) and clinical effect (postoperative hospital stay, total cost of admission) for the two groups were analyzed. RESULTS: Patients in both groups were cured clinically. There were no significant differences in gender, age, etiology, concurrent illness, diabetes, involved spaces, preoperative white cell count, and airway control method in NPDI group and traditional group (p > .05). The postoperative hospital stay and the total cost of admission in the NPDI group were significantly lower than the traditional group (p < .001). CONCLUSION: Negative pressure drainage-assisted irrigation used in the treatment of MSI can shorten the postoperative hospital stay, reduce the total cost of admission, and show favorably clinical effect. It is a clinically recommended method for MSI.