Aesthetic Outcomes of Intra-Umbilical Incision vs Infra-Umbilical Incision in Postpartum Tubal Sterilization: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: An incision inside the umbilicus is popular used in single port surgery intra-umbilical skin incision surgeries have been proven efficient and safe. When compared to infra-umbilical skin incisions, an incision wound was invisible after the operation. Why not use intra-umbilical skin incision in postpartum tubal sterilization.
 Objective: To compare aesthetic scores of an incision wound, surgical time and complications in postpartum sterilization under infra-umbilical and intra-umbilical skin incision.
 Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial conducted in Prapokkhlo Hospital, Chanthaburi, Thailand. Patients (n = 58) with informed consents were randomly assigned to one of the two skin incision techniques for postpartum sterilization (n = 29 for each arm). Surgical times were recorded. Both the patients and an independent physician made wound aesthetic assessments one week after the operation using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scores (POSAS), which compares the wound to the nearby skin. T tests and exact probability statistical tests were used for statistical analysis.
 Results: The surgeon’s POSAS scores in intra-umbilical incisions were significantly closer to normal skin than those in infra-umbilical incisions (6.8 ± 1.5 vs 12.5 ± 5.0; P < .001). A similar finding was observed for patient POSAS scores (6.5 ± 1.2 vs 15.4 ± 5.0; P < .001). The operation times were also shorter (9.1 ± 2.8 vs 11.8 ± 4.7 minutes; P = .009). Neither intra-abdominal injuries nor wound infections were observed.
 Conclusions: Postpartum sterilization using intra-umbilical skin incision was more efficient in regard to aesthetic concerns and operation time.