Comparing outcomes between barbed and conventional sutures in patients undergoing knee or hip arthroplasty.

Abstract

To compare outcomes between barbed sutures and conventional sutures among patients undergoing knee or hip arthroplasty. Retrospective study of patients (aged≥18years) undergoing elective knee/hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis between 1 January 2013 and 1 September2015. Patients were classified as: any Stratafix™ Knotless Tissue Control Devices (barbed suture group) used for closure vs. conventional sutures only (conventional suture group). Compared with the conventional suture group, the barbed suture group had statistically significant: shorter length of stay, knee=0.2d; hip=0.3d and operating room time, knee=7min; hip=22min and lower rate of discharge to skilled nursing facility/nonhome setting (knee=3.0%; hip=6.8%). Use of barbed sutures was associated with shorter length of stay, operating room time and less resource intensive discharge status as compared with conventional sutures alone.