title: A randomized comparison of the effect of partial and total wound closure techniques on postoperative morbidity after mandibular third molar surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effect of total and partial wound closure techniques on immediate postoperative tissue reactions and complications after mandibular third molar surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective, randomized, controlled study was carried out at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, National Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria. Patients were randomly allocated to partial (group I) and total (group II) wound closure groups. Data were collected on pain, trismus, swelling, and complications experienced by the patients. Data analysis was carried out with SPSS software for Windows (version 13.0; SPSS, Chicago, IL) and GenStat (Discovery Edition, 2005; VSN International Ltd, Hemel Hempstead, UK).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We studied 82 patients, consisting of 54 female and 28 male patients, with mandibular third molar teeth impaction. There were 40 patients (48.8%) in group I and 42 patients (51.2%) in group II. A statistically significant reduction in facial swelling (P = .001) was found in group I compared with group II, but no difference was recorded for pain and trismus. Group I presented with significant postoperative reactionary bleeding (P = .007), but no difference was recorded between the 2 groups regarding dry socket and socket infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The partial wound closure technique after third molar surgery was considered to be associated with more postoperative morbidity, in view of the distressing nature of reactionary bleeding that was found to be associated with it. However, patients should be adequately informed about the possibility of attendant facial swelling each time the technique of total wound closure is used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery, State House Medical Centre, Abuja, Nigeria. sabello2004@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Seidu Adebayo
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Bello
authors.forename: Abayomi A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Olaitan
authors.forename: Akinola L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ladeinde
mesh_terms: D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000601:surgery*; D058106:Wound Closure Techniques