Archives

Introduction: Suturing after mandibular third molar surgery presents with difficulties of restricted access, instrumentation, and securing knot. Good suture material and technique can negate complications.

Objective: To compare effectiveness of 3-0 knotless barbed suture (polydioxanone) with 4-0 polyglactin 910 in achieving wound closure after impacted mandibular third molar surgery.

Materials and Method: A non-randomised trial was carried out after ethical clearance from 2022 August to 2022 October in patients requiring surgical horizontal third molar extraction visiting Kantipur Dental College.Wound closure was done using 3-0 knotless suture for study group and 3-0 polyglactin 910 for control group. Clinical parameters measured were: time for wound closure, pain, swelling, wound dehiscence, food lodgement. Data were analysed using SPSS-v.20.

Result: Forty patients (29 males, 11 females) participated in study (mean age of 32.0 years). Mean time for wound approximation was 2.10 minutes and 3.30 minutes for study and control groups respectively (P <0.001). Difference in visual analogue scale score (P <0.508), and swelling (P <0.001) were significant on first post-operative day in study group than control group indicating reduction in pain (P <0.001) and swelling (P <0.001) on seventh post-operative day in study group compared to control group. Wound dehiscence and food lodgement were absent in study group whereas in control group, wound dehiscence was noted in two and food lodgement in six patients on day seven.

Conclusion: Knotless suture is effective alternative to conventional sutures for intraoral wound closure as it reduces suturing time, facilitates effective wound closure and minimises knot-related complications.

Food lodgement; knotless barbed suture; pain; polyglactin 910 suture; swelling; wound dehiscence.