Effectiveness of Sucralfate comparing to normal saline as an oral rinse in pain reduction and wound healing promotion in oral surgery

OBJECTIVES: To study the effectiveness of Sucralfate suspension oral rinse compared to normal saline alone for pain reduction and wound healing promotion in open oral surgical wounds. The primary outcome of this study was postoperative pain VAS score reduction. The secondary outcome was wound healing promotion based on wound grade and maximal wound length reduction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 patients with secondary healing intraoral surgical wounds were enrolled in this study. Sucralfate suspension (1 g/5 mL) was prescribed to a randomized experimental group as an oral rinse every 6 h for 14 days in addition to standard postoperative care. Postoperative pain VAS score, wound grade, and wound length were collected and compared with baseline from initial to final visit during 2 weeks. RESULTS: The mean change of VAS score was significantly lower from baseline in the Sucralfate group on day 3 (−0.77 in control and −2.15 in Sucralfate, p < .05) and day 7 (−2.15 in control and −3.62 in Sucralfate, p < .05). Wound grade distribution over time was the same in both Sucralfate and control groups. The mean change in wound length was not significantly different between the two groups. No adverse reaction to Sucralfate was reported during the study participation. CONCLUSIONS: Sucralfate suspension oral rinse can be recommended as an effective topical analgesic solution in postoperative secondary healing of intraoral wounds with no significant interference. The benefits of wound healing promotion have yet to be proven. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1b.