TITLE:
Assessment of the effect of wound closure technique on postoperative sequaele and complications after impacted mandibular third molar extraction
AUTHORS:
E. O. Anighoro, O. M. Gbotolorun, R. A. Adewole, G. T. Arotiba, O. A. Effiom
KEYWORDS:
Third Molar Surgery; Wound Closure Technique; Postoperative Sequelae and Complications
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Stomatology,
Vol.3 No.9,
December
25,
2013
ABSTRACT:
Aims
and Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare the effect of complete and
partial wound closures on postoperative sequelae and complications after
surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars. Patients and Methods: One
hundred and twenty patients who required 121 surgical extractions of mandibular
impacted third molars were included in the study. Patients were randomly
divided into 2 groups based on wound closure after surgery. In group 1
(complete wound closure, n1 = 60) patients had their extraction
sockets completely closed by mucosal flap while in group 2 (partial wound
closure, n2 = 60) patients had their extraction sockets partially
closed. Data collected included maximum inter-incisal distance (MID) and facial
width which were recorded both preoperatively and postoperatively. What also
recorded were postoperative pain intensity and postoperative complications. Results:
There were 50 (41.7%) males and 70 (58.3%) females (male to female ratio of
1:1.4); age range was 18-40 years and the mean was 26 ± 10 years.
The mean ages of patients in both groups showed no significant difference
(group 1 = 26.5 ± 7.2; group 2 = 27.1 ± 8.1). The pain was maximal at the first
postoperative day review and it gradually reduced in intensity towards the preoperative values for both groups. The pain perceptionsin
patients in group 2 were however significantly lower than those of group 1 on
days 1 and 3 but not statistically different on day 7. The mean difference in
the postoperative and preoperative MID was greatest on the 1st postoperative day and gradually became smaller on the subsequent review days.
Comparison of this mean difference between the 2 groups however showed a
significant difference in the 2 groups only on day 7. Maximal swelling was
noted in both groups on the third postoperative day. A comparison of the mean
facial width between the two groups showed no statistically significant
difference on all the review days. The postoperative complication rate was 5%
in both groups. Conclusions: The results of the study indicate that there was a
comparative reduction in postoperative sequelae namely pain and trismus after
impacted mandibular third molar surgery when a partial wound closure technique
was done. However, there was no significant difference in the postoperative
complication rate between the two groups.