Influence of Post-operative Instructions on Wound Healing. A Randomized, Single-blinded Clinical Trial.

Abstract

 Postoperative instructions that are properly delivered can play a major role in treatment outcomes, especially excellent wound healing. This study aimed to examine the mode of delivering postoperative instructions in decreasing the side effects of poor wound healing following simple tooth extraction. This single-blinded, randomized clinical trial was conducted on 400 patients presented for simple extraction of unimpacted teeth. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups of verbal and verbal plus written instructed groups.  Collected data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics at a significance level of 95%. More men (51.5%) were seen. The participants' mean age was 37.3 ± 14.3 years (range, 18-87 years). The results showed that the mode of delivering instructions had a marked relation with socket healing. The post-extraction healing score was significantly higher in the verbal and written instructed group compared with the verbal instructions alone (P = 0.00). The age (P = 0.04) and type of instruction (P = 0.00) were significantly associated with excellent wound healing. Only the type of instruction that independently predicted the excellent wound healing (OR = 0.12; P = 0.00).  The mode of delivering post-operative instruction affected the post extraction socket healing. Patients who received written and verbal instructions reported excellent post extraction socket healing than those who had verbal instructions only. All medical practitioners are recommended to use both verbal and written post-operative instruction