Efficacy of Intra-lesion Injection of Corticosteroid for Treating Patients with Oral Lichen Planus Lesions

Abstract

This study carried out to determine efficacy and safety of intra-lesion corticosteroid injection as a management of Oral Lichen Planus lesions. Twenty patients were randomly divided into two equal groups: Group I: treated with 1.4 mg intra-lesion betamethasone, and Group II: treated with (8 mg intra-lesion triamcinolone acetonide TA). Patients in the two groups were received injections once a week for 3 weeks. Clinical examination of the lesion was performed, and associated pain was recorded applying visual analogue at weekly intervals up to three weeks. The lesions were followed up after three months later to determine; the lesion disappearance and any recurrence within the following 3 months. All the included patients in the two groups completed the designed treatment protocol without complications or side effects. Healed percentage was higher with Betamethasone (80%) than with Triamcinolone (60%), and final reduction in lesion area was greater in the Group I (18.66 ± 16.32 mm2) than in the Group II (10.73 ± 9.62 mm2). Reduction in pain level was noted in the two treated groups, however did not differ significantly (p < 0.05). The change in VAS for pain from baseline to week 1 in Group I was significantly higher than in the Group II. It can be concluded that, intra-lesional of betamethasone may add beneficially as topical treatment of oral lichen planus lesions that avoid hazards of systemic administration of corticosteroids.