Pain perception of surface electromyography in children with and without cleft-lip-palate

Objectives: Surface electromyography is a useful procedure as an objective diagnostic exam. It complements clinical assessment, facilitates monitoring and verifies treatment results. However it is underutilized in Dentistry in children and youngsters; many consider it can be uncomfortable for the patient. Aim: Describe the perception of pain and behaviour of Colombian children with and without cleft lip and palate during the surface electromyography exam on perioral and masticatory muscles.
Methods: With the prior approval of the institutional ethics committee (act No. 005-2013p), signature of informed consent (in children aged over 10 years) and parental consent, surface electromyography was carried out on 69 patients aged between 5 and 15 years: 45 children with cleft lip and palate (23 with unilateral cleft, 22 with bilateral cleft) and a control group of 24 children without cleft. Wong Baker and Frankl scale were used to determine the patient’s perception of pain and the behaviour at the beginning and culmination of the electromyography.
Results: 66 children (95, 65%) showed type 4 behaviour (definitely positive in Frankl scale) at the beginning of the exam and 3 children (4, 35%) showed type-3 behaviour (positive). In the second behaviour evaluation, at the end of the electromyography, 100% of the children presented type 4 behaviour (Frankl scale). In the evaluation of pain according to the Wong Baker scale, 62 children (89, 86%) at the end of the procedure showed face 0 (no hurt), 7 children (10, 14%) showed face 2 (hurts little bit). Of these 7 children, 2 had bilateral cleft lip and palate, 2 had unilateral cleft lip and palate, and 3 were of the control group.
Conclusions: Surface electromyography is a safe procedure; children do not show behaviour changes related to discontent, discomfort or pain.