Chlorhexidine coated sutures after extraction: A randomized controlled trial

To assess and compare the efficacy of chlorhexidine coated polyglactin 910 versus non-coated sutures in post-operative infection control.

A split-mouth study involving 45 participants needing surgical tooth extraction split into two groups: Group A (45 teeth) with chlorhexidine-coated sutures and Group B (45 teeth) with non-coated sutures. Participants indicated for a bilateral third molar surgical extractions requiring a three-cornered flap elevation and buccal bone guttering were included in the study. The parameters assessed clinically were pain, swelling, wound dehiscence, erythema, infection and trismus on post-operative day 1, 4 and 7. Culture and assessment of sutures for organisms and colony forming units was done on day 7 (CFU/ml). The data was recorded and statistically analyzed.

Group A showed lower pain scores and swelling. Infection rates were lower in Group A but were not of statistical significance. Erythema, trismus and wound dehiscence showed lower scores in group A. Microbiologically, Staphylococcus aureus (28%) and E. coli (24.4%) were predominant in Group A, whereas the control group exhibited higher incidences of Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus aureus (24.6%). Chlorhexidine significantly decreased bacterial colony counts.

Chlorhexidine-coated sutures has a proven benefit in the reduction of bacterial growth (CFUs/ml) post-surgical tooth extraction and may be a useful adjunct in reducing the post-operative inflammation.