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I. Introduction
Some patients with thrombocytopenia experience bleeding after an invasive dental procedure. For tooth extractions, which are common dental procedures, predicting and preventing postoperative hemorrhagic complications is important for patients with thrombocytopenia, who are affected by hemostatic measures.
Studies have reported that the daily use of aspirin, which affects platelet function, does not cause serious hemorrhagic complications after tooth extraction1-3. Patients who take aspirin rarely cease their aspirin use before tooth extraction. Local hemostatic measures are recommended over the cessation of aspirin (anti-platelet) administration before tooth extraction1,3.
However, it remains unclear about whether there is a high incidence of hemorrhagic complications after tooth extraction in patients with thrombocytopenia who do not have a reduced platelet function, but a reduced platelet count4. Tooth extraction may be performed on a patient with thrombocytopenia whose platelet count has not increased even after platelet transfusion. In such cases, the patient and the surgeon must bear the risk of postoperative bleeding and understand the magnitude of the risk.
In this study, we examined the association between thrombocytopenia and hemorrhagic complications after tooth extraction to investigate the risk of bleeding in patients with thrombocytopenia following tooth extraction.
II. Materials and Methods
The medical records of patients who had been diagnosed with thrombocytopenia and who underwent tooth extractions between 2001 and 2019 at our hospital were reviewed. Patients were included if they satisfied the following criteria: 1) had a medical history diagnosed with thrombocytopenia at our institution and had a clear medication history and tooth extraction records; 2) had not undergone radiation therapy, tumor surgery, or osteomyelitis treatment in the jawbone area; and 3) their platelet count was determined through a blood test before tooth extraction. Patients were excluded if they had undergone tooth extractions before the onset of thrombocytopenia or had unclear blood test results or test dates that were diagnosed at another hospital and later referred to our hospital.
Two hundred and twenty patients who satisfied all of the aforementioned criteria were included. Patients who were diagnosed with thrombocytopenia, but had a normal platelet count at the time of tooth extraction were assigned to the control group. These patients had platelet counts >150k and <250k. A patient was deemed to have thrombocytopenia at the time of tooth extraction if the platelet count was <150k at the time of the procedure. Patients with thrombocytopenia were assigned to the experimental group. A total of 330 extraction sites were examined.
1. Extraction techniques and hemorrhagic complications after tooth extraction
The patients were referred to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for tooth extraction. The indications for tooth extraction included the presence of remnant tooth roots, severe dental caries making the tooth non-restorable, tooth fractures, severe periodontal inflammation, and pericoronitis. In the case of severe signs of infection, tooth extractions were performed after the infections were relieved with antibiotic therapy.
The methods of tooth extraction included extractions with sutures and surgical extractions involving an alveolar osteotomy and root splitting. Patients took orally prophylactic antibiotics before the tooth extraction. Patients were informed to bite on wet gauze and return home after the confirmation of hemostasis. An analgesic was prescribed to all the patients before extraction (ibuprofen 300 mg or acetaminophen 300 mg) and after extraction (ibuprofen 300 mg or acetaminophen 300 mg for 3-7 days). Antibiotics were also administered after tooth extraction depending on whether or not postoperative infection occurred.
Patients with platelet count ≥150k underwent tooth extractions without consultations at the internal medicine department even though they had previously been diagnosed with thrombocytopenia. Patients with platelet count <150k underwent tooth extractions after consultations at the internal medicine department. A decision was made on whether to perform the extraction after platelet administration or after hospitalization based on a response from the internal medicine department that examined the patient. All the patients were informed of the possibility of hemorrhagic complications after tooth extractions and were discharged once hemostasis was achieved. They were told to return to the hospital if post-extraction bleeding occurred.
For patients who had hemorrhagic complications after tooth extraction, the first choice for bleeding control was biting wet gauze to achieve hemostasis by compressing the bleeding site of the tooth extraction area. If needed, a collagen or gelatin sponge was placed in the extraction socket to achieve hemostasis through compression. Hemostasis was also achieved through suturing the adjacent areas. Patients were discharged after hemostasis was confirmed.
2. Statistical analysis
The thrombocytopenia group consisted of patients with platelet count <150k with the control group of patients with platelet counts between 150k and 250k. The Student t-test was used to examine the differences between the two groups according to age and platelet counts. The chi-square test was used to examine the differences in gender, the number of patients who had post-extraction bleeding complications, the amount of platelet transfusions received before tooth extraction, and the extraction techniques including alveolar osteotomies between the group that underwent tooth extractions with thrombocytopenia and the control group with normal platelet counts.
Patients with thrombocytopenia were divided into three groups according to their platelet counts: <50k, >50k and <100k, and >100k and <150k. Statistical analysis for these subgroups was performed with the same variables. Additionally, the number of teeth extracted and the frequency of bleeding was investigated for different extraction sites for each group. The extraction sites involved the maxillary and mandibular regions, which were further divided into anterior, premolar, and molar regions. In cases where a simple extraction and sutures were performed in the maxilla or mandible, whether or not surgical extractions involving alveolar osteotomies were performed was investigated. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics (ver. 23.0; IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
III. Results
A total of 220 patients were examined—130 were male and 90 were female. Tooth extractions were performed in 130 patients with thrombocytopenia where the platelet counts were less than 150k. Ninety patients with platelet counts between 150k and 250k within the normal limit underwent tooth extractions.
Three hundred and thirty teeth were extracted from a total of 220 patients. One hundred and sixty-two teeth were extracted from the maxilla, and 168 teeth were extracted from the mandible. Sixty anterior teeth, 87 canines and premolars, and 183 molars were extracted. Forty-four extractions were surgical extractions accompanied by alveolar osteotomies.
Eleven (5.0%) of the 220 patients exhibited postoperative bleeding complications after the tooth extractions. Of the 130 patients who underwent tooth extractions in a thrombocytopenic state, 10 patients (7.7%) had postoperative hemorrhagic complications after the procedures. Of the 90 patients with normal platelet counts, one patient (1.1%) had a postoperative hemorrhagic complication after tooth extraction. There was a significant difference in the number of patients who had post-extraction bleeding between the two groups (P=0.030).(Table 1) One of the 44 patients who underwent tooth extractions involving alveolar osteotomies had a post-extraction hemorrhagic complication. Of the 11 patients who had post-extraction hemorrhagic complications, four had platelet counts <50k, three had platelet counts >50k and <100k, and three had platelet counts >100k and <150k.(Table 2) No significant difference in the incidence of post-extraction bleeding was found between the subgroups by platelet count within the thrombocytopenia group (P=0.293).
Of the 130 patients who underwent tooth extractions with thrombocytopenia, 18 patients (13.8%) received a platelet transfusion before the procedure. None of the 90 patients who underwent tooth extractions with a normal platelet count received a platelet transfusion before the procedure (P<0.001). One of the patients who had a hemorrhagic complication had received a platelet transfusion before the tooth extraction. Of the 27 patients who underwent tooth extractions with platelet counts <50k in the thrombocytopenia group, 14 patients (51.9%) received a platelet transfusion before the tooth extractions compared to the other thrombocytopenia subgroups (P<0.001).
A total of 330 teeth were extracted in this study. Of the 162 maxillary teeth extracted, five exhibited postoperative bleeding complications (one anterior tooth, three premolars, and one posterior molar tooth). Six (one anterior tooth and five posterior molar teeth) of the 168 mandibular teeth showed postoperative bleeding. No significant differences in the incidence of post-extraction bleeding were found between the maxillary and mandibular teeth.(Table 3)
The mean age of the 130 patients who underwent tooth extractions with thrombocytopenia was 63.1±15.1 years (mean±standard deviation [SD]), while the mean age of the 90 patients who underwent tooth extractions with normal platelet counts was 65.7±13.7 years (mean±SD) (P=0.192). There was no significant difference in the mean age between the two groups. The 130 patients who underwent tooth extractions with thrombocytopenia had platelet counts of 83.6±38.1k (mean±SD). The 90 patients who underwent tooth extractions with normal platelet counts had platelet counts of 209.4±42.0k (mean±SD) (P<0.001).
IV. Discussion
In this study, there was a significant difference in the number of patients who had post-extraction bleeding between the thrombocytopenia group and the group with normal platelet counts.
A previous study reported that five (7.4%) out of 200 tooth extractions in 68 patients experienced post-extraction bleeding in patients with thrombocytopenia5. Similar results were observed in our study, in which 10 (7.7%) of the 130 patients who underwent a tooth extraction with thrombocytopenia exhibited post-extraction hemorrhagic complications, and only one (1.1%) of the 90 patients who underwent tooth extraction with a normal platelet count had a post-extraction hemorrhagic complication.
A study reported that the risk of hemorrhagic complications following tooth extraction is high for patients with a platelet count <40k and prothrombin time greater than 2.5 international normalized ratio6. In this study, patients with platelet counts ≤150k were divided into three smaller groups differing in platelet counts by 50k. In this study, unlike the above reported results, four patients with platelet counts <50k, three patients with platelet counts >50k and <100k, and three patients with platelet counts >100k and <150k had post-extraction hemorrhagic complications. No significant differences in the incidence of post-extraction bleeding was observed between the subgroups by platelet count within the thrombocytopenia group (P=0.293). The incidence of postoperative bleeding was not related with low platelet counts between the smaller groups of the thrombocytopenia group. In cases of thrombocytopenia with platelet counts <150k, it was difficult to conclude that low platelet counts (<50k, 50k-100k, and 100k-150k) indicated an increased risk of post-extraction hemorrhagic complications.
A systematic review on platelet counts and hemorrhagic complications following invasive dental procedures reported that platelet counts must be at least 50k before a surgical procedure, prophylactic platelet transfusions do not reduce the risk of postoperative hemorrhagic complications, and that local treatment on the extraction wound is important for reducing postoperative bleeding4. In our study, 18 (13.8%) of the 130 patients who underwent tooth extractions with thrombocytopenia had received a platelet transfusion before tooth extraction, and one of these patients experienced a hemorrhagic complication. In this study, the number of patients who received platelet transfusions before tooth extractions was too small to determine whether platelet transfusions can reduce the risk of postoperative bleeding. Preoperative platelet transfusions should be considered before invasive dental procedures under consultation with the medical department even though pre-extraction platelet transfusions do not appear to have a promising hemostatic effect during dental surgery.
This study is only about hemorrhage in patients with thrombocytopenia as they have reduced absolute platelet counts. Additional studies are necessary to compare the frequency of post-extraction bleeding in between patients with thrombocytopenia and patients who take medications affecting hemostasis. A study reported that there was no difference in the incidence of post-extraction bleeding among patients who took direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and warfarin, which affects hemostasis, and that 23 (8.8%) of 262 patients with warfarin had hemorrhagic complications7. Our study results were similar to the abovementioned warfarin group with 10 (7.7%) of the 130 patients with thrombocytopenia who underwent tooth extraction in our study experiencing post-extraction hemorrhagic complications. Therefore, the incidence of post-extraction hemorrhagic complications may be similar or less between patients who take medications that affect hemostasis such as warfarin and patients with thrombocytopenia with reduced platelet counts (<150k)8.
Rocha et al.9 reported the incidence of post-extraction bleeding where three (4.3%) of 66 patients who underwent tooth extractions and were taking vitamin K antagonists exhibited postoperative hemorrhagic complications, while two (2.9%) of 67 patients who did not take anticoagulants had postoperative hemorrhagic complications.
In our study, 10 (7.7%) of the patients with thrombocytopenia had post-extraction hemorrhagic complications, suggesting that the incidence of post-extraction hemorrhagic complications can differ between patients with reduced platelet functions and those with reduced platelet counts (<150k). It is necessary to consider the high possibility of bleeding complications in patients with thrombocytopenia.
In our study, one (2.3%) of the 44 patients who underwent tooth extractions involving alveolar osteotomies had post-extraction hemorrhagic complications. This indicates that a surgical extraction surgery with an alveolar osteotomy may not increase postoperative hemorrhagic complications compared to a simple extraction without an osteotomy. In addition, no significant difference in the incidence of post-extraction bleeding was observed between maxillary and mandibular teeth.
An appropriate evaluation of bleeding tendencies during tooth extractions is required even for simple extractions. In our study, 7 of the 11 patients who had hemorrhagic complications underwent suturing at the tooth extraction socket areas. Based on these results, suturing the extraction site alone does not prevent post-extraction hemorrhagic complications, and the additional use of hemostatic materials may be necessary. A randomized prospective study reported that using hemostatic materials such as hemostatic plugs can reduce the incidence of post-extraction hemorrhagic complications following tooth extractions involving only simple suturing10. Additionally, a study reported that five patients (4%) who were administered warfarin had hemorrhagic complications following tooth extractions and were provided locally absorbable and hemostatic agents such as gelatin sponges and collagen fleeces11. Based on these results, the use of extraction techniques causing minimal wounds, hemostatic materials, and appropriate hemostatic measures can prevent post-extraction hemorrhagic complications.
Local treatment is important to reduce the risk of post-extraction hemorrhagic complications in patients with thrombocytopenia. However, simply performing an atraumatic extraction in addition to applying hemostatic materials to the extraction socket is not sufficient as a local treatment. Unnecessary suturing simply causes a wound as the needle punctures the extraction site. While applying hemostatic materials during suturing may be useful, more scientific evidence is needed to support their use in all patients since no study has demonstrated that using hemostatic materials is beneficial for all tooth extraction procedures with thrombocytopenia patients. Therefore, it is necessary to predict the risk of bleeding through an evaluation of the extraction site and choose an appropriate treatment approach for bleeding control. Studies have reported that an appropriate evaluation of the hemorrhagic nature of the tooth extraction site is necessary for patients with thrombocytopenia to reduce post-extraction bleeding4,5,12. In addition, high levels of experience and care of the surgeon are required for preventing postoperative hemorrhagic complications4,5,12.
Studies assessing the severity of post-extraction bleeding are rare. One study graded the severity of post-extraction bleeding in patients with thrombocytopenia12. In this previous study, the severity of bleeding was graded from 1 to 3. Grade 1 bleeding can be stopped by simple compression, while grade 2 bleeding requires additional measures such as the use of a hemostat, re-suturing, or surgical splints12. Grade 3 bleeding requires vitamin K, fresh frozen plasma, or clotting factor replacement transfusions. During tooth extractions, bleeding may be graded into one that can be stopped through compression with wet gauze, one that requires additional sutures and hemostatic materials, and one that requires additional platelet transfusions12. Considering that most post-extraction hemorrhagic complications in patients with thrombocytopenia were treated by local treatments, grade 2 bleeding may be the most common. In our study, a hemorrhagic complication occurred at a single location even in patients who had multiple teeth removed. This suggests that while it is important to consider the patient’s systemic conditions, local treatment including evaluation and bleeding control applied at the tooth extraction site may also be important.
A surgeon must stop the bleeding at the tooth extraction site through compression, sutures, and the use of hemostatic materials during tooth extraction procedures. Patients should be discharged after hemostasis confirmation has been achieved in order to reduce the incidence of postoperative hemorrhagic complications.
Tooth extractions are performed on patients with serious systemic conditions such as thrombocytopenia. Based on previous findings and the findings from this study, the risk of post-extraction hemorrhagic complications is higher in patients with thrombocytopenia, and local treatment including evaluation and bleeding control applied at the tooth extraction site is more important than whether the patient received platelet transfusions or the patient’s absolute platelet count. It is necessary to assess the severity of immediate post-extraction bleeding on tooth extraction sites in patients with thrombocytopenia and appropriate measures taken before patients are to be discharged.
V. Conclusion
Surgeons must perform an atraumatic operation and assess bleeding patterns during tooth extractions to choose an appropriate hemostatic measure to prevent post-extraction bleeding in patients with thrombocytopenia (platelet count <150k). They must also consider using sutures and local hemostatic agents at the extraction site. In cases of thrombocytopenia with platelet counts <150k, it is difficult to conclude that low platelet counts (e.g., <50k, 50k-100k, 100k-150k) indicate an increased risk of post-extraction hemorrhagic complications.
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