Tonsillar Fossa Closure: A Quest in Tonsillectomy Pain Reduction

Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures; the search for efficiency and pain control is still undergoing. Suturing the tonsillar pillars after excision is thought to reduce pain; nevertheless, the concept itself is debatable. A prospective randomized double blinded study of 36 patients who had tonsillectomy in King Abdulaziz University Hospital. One of the pillars was sutured and the other was left un-sutured (control). The patient was asked to compare pain between both sides. The mean age was 14.2 (range 7-36), males 44.4% (n = 16), females 55.6% (n = 20). The pain was reduced in the site of the stitch in 55.6% (n = 20), and was increased in 22.2% (n = 8), but did not change in 22.2% (n = 8). Reduction in pain was observed at the site of the suture, especially in children. This theory needs further exploration with a larger population.