title: Early wound healing and patient morbidity after single-incision vs. trap-door graft harvesting from the palate--a clinical study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to compare wound healing and patient pain perception of single-incision (single-incision, modified single-incision) and trap-door surgical techniques to harvest subepithelial connective tissue grafts from the palate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six patients were selected for root coverage procedures with subepithelial connective tissue grafts and randomly assigned to two single-incision groups or a trap-door group (n = 12/group). One week after surgery, a modified early-wound healing index (EHI), patient pain and painkiller intake were recorded. Follow-up was performed until complete epithelialization was achieved.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Single-incision techniques showed significantly improved early healing over trap-door approaches. Specifically, the mean EHI was 2.50 ± 1.14 for single-incision techniques, as compared to 3.33 ± 1.30 for trap door. The incidence of secondary healing was significantly lower in the single-incision groups. Concomitantly, the cumulative dosage and duration of painkiller intake were significantly reduced, as compared to the trap-door group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within the limits of this trial, single-incision techniques can lead to improved early healing and reduced patient pain after subepithelial connective tissue graft harvesting than trap-door techniques.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Avoiding trap-door incisions for harvesting of connective tissue grafts may reduce patient morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Pleicherwall 2, 97070, Würzburg, Germany, fickl_s@klinik.uni-wuerzburg.de.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fickl
authors.forename: Kai R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jockel-Schneider
authors.forename: Christian F J
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Stappert
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schlagenhauf
authors.forename: Moritz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kebschull
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D005893:Gingivoplasty / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010159:Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D011897:Random Allocation; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods*; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics