Suture Choice Research Articles

SUTURE CHOICE IN CARPAL TUNNEL SURGERY: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

ObjectiveCarpal tunnel release surgery is a commonly performed procedure for alleviating symptoms of median nerve compression and restoring hand function. With pressure on theatre time these procedures are now commonly performed in a step-down out-patient facility under local anaesthetic. The choice of suture for skin closure in this procedure can impact the quality of wound healing, patient outcomes and the follow-up required however the question of the best type of suture remains unanswered. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of absorbable and non-absorbable sutures using a randomised control trial design.MethodsEighty patients diagnosed with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome were enrolled and underwent outpatient carpal tunnel release surgery under local anaesthetic in a staged fashion. Random number generation was used to assign each hand to receive interrupted nylon or Vicryl Rapide sutures. Pre-operative data collection included patient demographics, ASA, inflammatory conditions, smoking status as well as a Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) for each hand. Patients were followed up at 2 and 6 weeks after each operation and the BCTQ was repeated along with the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale and the VAS score for wound discomfort. This study has approval from the DHB ethics committee, Local Iwi, HDC and ANZ Clinical Trials:ACTRN12623000100695.ResultsStatistical analysis assessed patient preference and the scores between the groups. Multi-variate analysis was performed to assess the factors that may be contributing to patient choice.ConclusionInsights into patient preference and clinical outcomes associated with absorbable sutures and non-absorbable sutures in the setting of out-patient surgery are discussed.

Biomechanical evaluation of the ST-knot: A new suture for flexor tendon repair

PurposeAlthough tendon lacerations are common, there is currently no consensus on choice of suture. Easy and fast sutures that impart enough strength to allow mobilization are needed. This study compared the ex vivo biomechanical strength (force required to create a 2 mm tendon gap) of a novel suture (ST-knot) with that of a conventional suture (double Kessler). Materials and methodsForty fresh deep flexor tendons from porcine forelimbs were used. Both repaired tendon ends were mounted on standard traction jaws of an axial traction machine at an initial distance of 40 mm for all tendons. A high-definition camera was used to determine the force forming a 2 mm gap. Ten tendons in group 1 (ST-knot) and 10 in group 2 (double Kessler) were prepared with PDS 4.0 (single thread for Kessler, double thread for ST-knot). Tendons in groups 3 (ST-knot) and 4 (double Kessler) were repaired with PDS 1.0 using the same principle. ResultsThere was no significant difference in the force required to form a 2 mm tendon gap between groups 1 and 2, and this trend was identical when using a stronger thread in groups 3 and 4. The maximum force before rupture, mode of repair failure, stress and stiffness were also comparable, with no significant differences between groups 1 and 2, or between groups 3 and 4. ConclusionsThe ST-knot showed comparable results to the double-Kessler knot, whichever the thread used. Because it involves fewer steps than conventional techniques and is easy to perform, the ST-knot may offer a therapeutic solution, particularly in complex trauma with multiple tendon injury.

At the Scrub Sink: Uterosacral Ligament Suspension.

Uterosacral ligament suspension for repair of prolapse has some challenges, such as visualization in the vagina, choice of suture, and avoidance of dangers such as ureteral kinking. This editorial offers some tips for performing a uterosacral suspension that are commonly discussed "at the scrub sink" before a case.

Iatrogenic bladder injury following gynecologic and obstetric surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Iatrogenic bladder injury is a rare complication following obstetric and gynecologic surgery and only sparse information is available regarding length of transurethral catheterization following injuries, suturing techniques including choice of suture, and complications. The primary aim of this systematic review was to evaluate length of transurethral catheterization in relation to complications following iatrogenic bladder injury. Second, we aimed to evaluate the number of complications following repair of iatrogenic bladder injuries and to describe suture technique and best choice of suture. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted, and the results were presented in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed, Embase, and Medline electronic databases were searched, and followed by screening from two independent reviewers. Studies published between January 2000 and March 2023 describing methods of bladder injury repair following obstetric or gynecologic benign surgery were included. Data extraction was done using Covidence. We performed a meta-analysis on complications after repair and explored this with a meta-regression analysis (Metafor package R) on length of catheterization to determine if length of catheterization influenced the risk of complication. A risk of bias tool from Cochrane was used to assess risk of bias and the study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021290586). Out of 2175 articles, we included 21 retrospective studies, four prospective studies, and one case-control study. In total, 595 bladder injuries were included. Cesarean section was the most prominent surgery type, followed by laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy. We found no statistically significant association between length of transurethral catheterization and numbers of complications following repair of iatrogenic bladder injuries. More than 90% of injuries were recognized intraoperatively. Approximately 1% had complications following iatrogenic bladder injury repair (0.010, 95% confidence interval 0.0015-0.0189, 26 studies, 595 participants, I2 = 4%). Our review did not identify conclusive evidence on the length of postoperative catheterization following bladder injury warranting further research. However, the rate of complications was low following iatrogenic bladder injury with a wide range of repair approaches.

International, prospective cohort study comparing non-absorbable versus absorbable sutures for skin surgery: CANVAS service evaluation.

Absorbable or non-absorbable sutures can be used for superficial skin closure following excisional skin surgery. There is no consensus among clinicians nor high-quality evidence supporting the choice of suture. The aim of the present study was to determine current suture use and complications at 30 days after excisional skin surgery. An international, prospective service evaluation of adults undergoing excision of skin lesions (benign and malignant) in primary and secondary care was conducted from 1 September 2020 to 15 April 2021. Routine patient data collected by UK and Australasian collaborator networks were uploaded to REDCap©. Choice of suture and risk of complications were modelled using multivariable logistic regression. Some 3494 patients (4066 excisions) were included; 3246 (92.9 per cent) were from the UK and Ireland. Most patients were men (1945, 55.7 per cent), Caucasian (2849, 81.5 per cent) and aged 75-84 years (965, 27.6 per cent). The most common clinical diagnosis was basal cell carcinoma (1712, 42.1 per cent). Dermatologists performed most procedures, with 1803 excisions (44.3 per cent) on 1657 patients (47.4 per cent). Most defects were closed primarily (2856, 81.9 per cent), and there was equipoise in regard to use of absorbable (2127, 57.7 per cent) or non-absorbable (1558, 42.2 per cent) sutures for superficial closure. The most common complications were surgical-site infection (103, 2.9 per cent) and delayed wound healing (77, 2.2 per cent). In multivariable analysis, use of absorbable suture type was associated with increased patient age, geographical location (UK and Ireland), and surgeon specialty (oral and maxillofacial surgery and plastic surgery), but not with complications. There was equipoise in suture use, and no association between suture type and complications. Definitive evidence from randomized trials is needed.

Hernia recurrence after primary repair of small umbilical hernia defects

BackgroundAn evidence-based approach to the repair of umbilical hernias (UH)<1 cm has yet to be defined. MethodsA prospectively maintained, institutional hernia database was queried for patients undergoing primary suture repair of UH ≤ 1 cm. The primary outcome was recurrence and secondary outcomes were wound complications. ResultsOf 332 patients included (226-primary, 106-incisional), recurrence was identified in 4 (1.8%) primary versus 8 (7.5%) incisional-UH (p = 0.022), with follow-up of 4.7 ± 4.4 years. There were 10 (3.0%) wound complications: 4 (1.2%) superficial wound infections, 1 (0.3%) superficial wound dehiscence, and 5 (1.5%) seromas. On multivariable analysis of recurrence, incisional-UH had an odds ratio of 4.2 compared to primary. Suture choice, diabetes, BMI, tobacco-use history, and wound complications were not significant. ConclusionsWith long term follow-up, recurrence after primary suture repair of UH ≤ 1 cm occurred in 1.8% of primary and 7.5% of incisional UH. On multivariable analysis, incisional-UH increased recurrence odds by 4.2 times compared to primary.

Suture material choice can increase risk of hypersensitivity in hand trauma patients

IntroductionHypersensitivity is an unfortunate potential outcome in patients undergoing surgery following traumatic injuries to their hands. In our practice, we noted that certain suture types may increase the risk of the patient developing hypersensitivity.MethodologyWe conducted a retrospective observational study to investigate if certain suture materials increase the risk of hypersensitivity when used to repair surgical wounds in hand trauma. Patients undergoing hand trauma surgery over a period of five consecutive months were included in the study. Ethics committee approval was obtained from Peninsula Health’s research office.Results184 patients were included in the study. Hypersensitivity was observed in 30 (16.3%) patients post-operatively. Chromic gut suture was used in 53.3% of the patients who experienced hypersensitivity. Patients who had chromic catgut used in their surgery were 2.82 times more likely to develop hypersensitivity than patients who did not have chromic gut used (p = 0.0015). If a patient had a nerve repaired and chromic gut sutured used, they were 6.50 times more likely to develop hypersensitivity (p < 0.0001).ConclusionSurgeons should be aware that this data indicates that suture choice in hand trauma patients can greatly impact the risk of the patient developing hypersensitivity.Level of evidence: Level IV, risk/prognostic study.

Impact of Fluoridated Mouthwashes on Strength and Durability of Three Different Synthetic Absorbable Suturing Materials: An In Vitro Study

The aim of the current in vitro research was to assess the effect of fluoride-containing mouthwashes on the strength and durability of three different synthetic absorbable suturing materials. Three types of synthetic absorbable suture materials were employed in this research, and every group comprised 20 suture samples. These include group I: Polyglactin 910, group II: Polyglycolic acid, and group III: Poliglecaprone 25. This research utilized 4-0 gauge sutures. Each example was tied using a square surgeon's knot about elastic rubber tubing. The biology of the oral milieu was replicated in vitro through the use of artificial saliva. The medium that was subjected to test prior to inclusion were 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate as well as 0.044% sodium fluoride. The tensile strength of the specimen suture materials was subjected to test at a particular time intervals: prior to immersion, the 1st day, the 7th day, as well as the 14th day after immersion. Tensile strength was evaluated using a Universal Ultra Test machine. Post-immersion in 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthrinse, the mean tensile strength of polyglactin (PLG) 910 sutures was 24.48 ± 0.08 at pre-immersion and 4.36 ± 0.01 on the 14th day. The mean tensile strength of polyglycolic acid (PGA) sutures was 24.04 ± 0.26 at pre-immersion and 2.10 ± 0.02 on the 14th day. The mean tensile strength of Poliglecaprone 25 sutures was 23.82 ± 0.11 at pre-immersion and 1.34 ± 0.08 on the 14th day. Post-immersion in 0.044% sodium fluoride mouthrinse, the mean tensile strength of PLG 910 sutures was 24.18 ± 0.02 at pre-immersion and 5.12 ± 0.21 on the 14th day. The mean tensile strength of PGA sutures was 24.88 ± 0.34 at pre-immersion and 4.58 ± 0.10 on the 14th day. The mean tensile strength of Poliglecaprone 25 sutures was 24.48 ± 0.27 at pre-immersion and 5.08 ± 0.14 on the 14th day. A statistically noteworthy difference was noted amid the three types of sutures at dissimilar time points evaluated with p <0.001. The current research arrived at a conclusion that there is a significant difference between the mean tensile strength and purpose of the medium used for immersion as well as the tenure. Polyglactin suture material exhibited superior strength as compared to PGA and poliglecaprone suture substances following immersion in the investigational media. Suture materials are employed in the closure of incised flaps, to aid healing by primary intention, along with control of bleeding. In oral as well as periodontal surgery, the right choice of sutures is very important for good healing. Suture choice for the mouth should be influenced by the requirements of the anticipated repair and the surgeon's fondness.

Critical Analysis of Varying Sutures and Impact on Cost Efficacy in Orthopaedic Surgery

Objectives: Describe basic differences in sutures and the overall impact on cost efficacy. Design: Review. Intervention: Suture choice. Main Outcome measurements: Cost. Results and Conclusions: It is important for a surgeon to consider the advantages of various sutures and needles to ensure proper primary approximation, prevent infection or dehiscence, and close in a time-efficient manner. Modern-day sutures can be divided into three main categories: natural vs synthetic, monofilament vs multifilament, and non-absorbable vs absorbable. A newer monofilament barbed suture has been given increasing attention, as it reduces procedural times and ultimately operative costs. Level of Evidence: IV, Review Keywords: suture, barbed, cost, orthopaedic surgery, orthopedic surgery, cost analysis (J Ortho Business 2022; Volume 2, Issue 2:pages 13-18)

8-0 polyglactin 910 suture in entropion repair: long term follow up and rates of recurrence.

The choice of suture is an important consideration in entropion repair, with implications on wound strength, inflammation and scar formation. There is no consensus on the best suture material or gauge of suture at present. We aim to assess the long-term outcome of entropion repair using 8-0 polyglactin sutures, with specific focus on rates of recurrence, wound dehiscence, infection and scarring. This retrospective case series included consecutive patients from two institutions (84 eyes) undergoing entropion repair using a subciliary incision and a lateral wedge resection. Patients were invited for follow up review and patient records were evaluated to assess for cosmetic and functional outcome, complications and patient satisfaction. The median follow-up time from surgery was 48 months (range 20-100). There were five cases of entropion recurrence (5.9%), taking place between 8 months to 4 years after surgery, two cases required further surgery, while three were conservatively treated. There was no wound dehiscence. Two cases (2.4%) of mild superficial wound infections occurred which were successfully treated with topical antibiotics, 1 case (1.2%) of mild lid notching, and 1 case (1.2%) of scarring were recorded. 97% of patients reported to be satisfied with the outcome of their surgery. The use of 8-0 polyglactin suture in entropion repair has resulted in good aesthetic and functional outcome in this case series, with low rates of recurrence, complications, and no case of wound dehiscence, suggesting this suture provides sufficient tensile strength to enable wound closure and healing.

Injuries of the finger flexor ligaments: diagnosis and treatment

Introduction. The hand injury is one of the most common skeletal traumas, with occurrence of up to 50% in various age groups, including children. Among different hand injuries, those accompanied by the finger ligaments injuries make up 1.5-2%, which is up to 21% of all hospitalizations for this injury. Most patients are men, aged 18-45 years old. To choose the best treatment tactics, it is important to estimate the injury character and ligament injury severity. The main intra-operation tasks are providing atraumatic course and the choice of the ligament suture, and the postoperative ones – introducing individual appropriate rehabilitation measures. Objective: to expand knowledge of the medical students, masters, interns, clinical residents and PhDs specialized in “Orthopedics and Traumatology” about treatment of injuries of the finger flexor ligaments. Materials and methods of the study. The literature sources of the Pubmed, Up-to-date, Cochrane library, Science direct and Scopus database have been reviewed using search words “hand, ligament sutures”. Results and Discussion. The decision on the terms of recovery of the flexor ligaments is based not only on the established injury, but assessment of the wound and its characteristics. An important component which provides positive final outcome during operative intervention is assessment of the injured ligament condition and suture choice, which affects the choice and volume of rehabilitation program in a certain patient. Having analyzed modern views and discussions about the ligament suture, one can conclude that no “golden standard” has been accepted yet, which will completely satisfy both a patient and a physician. Conclusion. 1.Injury of the ligaments of the hand finger flexors make up to 1.5-2% of hand traumas, which is represented by up to 21% of such hospitalizations. Regarding the young age of the patients and a significant percentage of unsatisfactory outcomes, the issue calls for subsequent study and improving the treatment approaches. 2. Anatomical and biological knowledge provides for significant decrease in diagnostic errors and the operative intervention traumatic share. The main factor for the operative intervention choice is the ligament suture choice. 3. To provide for the positive final result, an individual rehabilitation program, which depends on the injury type, ligament suture and individual patient characteristics, should be introduced. This is why, to implement it, an orthopedist and rehabilitation physician should cooperate.

SP3.2.7 Surgical techniques in emergency hernia repair - what are we doing? Findings from the MASH study

Abstract Aims There is limited evidence to guide the emergency management of acutely symptomatic abdominal wall and groin hernias (ASH) and there is a lack of consensus on optimal surgical technique. This study aimed to explore surgical techniques used to repair ASH. Methods A prospective 12-week cohort study (NCT04197271) recruited adult patients with ASH across 23 UK sites. Baseline characteristics, quality of life, management strategy and 30/90-day outcomes were collected. For those undergoing surgery, detailed information was recorded on: time to surgery, anaesthetic technique, grade of surgeon, intraoperative findings, antibiotic use, operative approach, repair technique (mesh vs suture), mesh/suture type and position and whether bowel resection/stoma formation was required. Results Of the 264 patients recruited, 214 (82%) underwent acute repair within 48 hours of admission. 95% underwent open repair, with 93% under general anaesthetic. 5% of inguinal and femoral hernias had laparoscopic repair. Mesh was used in 89% of inguinal hernias vs 29% of umbilical hernias. The majority (86%) used a synthetic non-absorbable mesh (94% inguinal, 84% umbilical). Mesh placement varied widely for epigastric and umbilical hernia, with onlay used most commonly (24%). Similar variation was seen in suture choice. 8% developed an SSI by 30 days, the majority of which were in umbilical repairs. One patient developed early hernia recurrence (umbilical) requiring surgery. Conclusions This data demonstrates variation in the surgical management of ASH, especially with the use of mesh. Laparoscopic surgery was uncommon. Further studies are required to clarify optimal technique strategies in the emergency setting.

1225 How Are Acutely Symptomatic Hernias Repaired in The UK? Surgical Techniques from The MASH Study

Abstract Aim Minimal evidence exists guiding the emergency management of acutely symptomatic abdominal wall and groin hernias (ASH) and there is a lack of consensus on optimal surgical technique. The aim of this study was to explore surgical techniques used in the repair of ASH. Method A prospective 12-week cohort study (NCT04197271) recruited adult patients with ASH across 23 UK sites. Baseline characteristics, quality of life, management strategy and 30/90-day outcomes were collected. For those undergoing surgery, detailed information was recorded on: time to surgery, anaesthetic technique, grade of surgeon, intraoperative findings, antibiotic use, operative approach, repair technique (mesh vs suture), mesh/suture type and position, and whether bowel resection/stoma formation was required. Results Of the 264 patients recruited, 214 (82%) underwent acute repair within 48 hours of admission. 95% of patients underwent open repair, 93% under general anaesthetic. Mesh was used in 89% of inguinal hernia repair vs 29% umbilical hernia repair. The majority (86%) used a synthetic non-absorbable mesh (94% inguinal, 84% umbilical). Mesh placement varied widely for epigastric and umbilical hernia, with onlay used most commonly (24%). Similar variation was seen in suture choice. 8% of patients developed an SSI by 30 days, the majority which were in umbilical repairs. One patient developed early hernia recurrence (umbilical) requiring surgery. Conclusions This data demonstrates variation in the surgical management of ASH, especially with the use of mesh. Laparoscopic surgery was uncommon. Further studies are required to clarify optimal technique strategies in the emergency setting.

Dermatological surgery: an update on suture materials and techniques. Part 2.

This is the second part of a two-part series summarizing the latest evidence related to suture materials and wound closure techniques in dermatological surgery. We critically appraised evidence focusing on the following consequences of suture choice: scar/cosmesis, pain, patient satisfaction, cost, infection and wound complications. We searched the databases MEDLINE, PubMed and Embase using the keywords 'skin surgery', 'dermatological surgery', 'sutures', 'braided sutures', 'monofilament sutures' and 'antibacterial sutures' to identify relevant English-language articles. This part of the review assesses the evidence for different types of buried sutures, including braided vs. monofilament sutures, longer-absorbing sutures and antibacterial sutures. The majority of trials were noted to be of poor quality, single-centre (thus lacking external validity) and underpowered, which presents challenges in comparing suture techniques in skin surgery. Future large-scale, multicentre, randomized trials are needed, with both surgeon and patient-assessed validated outcomes.

P22. Recurrent CSF leak following repair of incidental durotomy in lumbar spinal stenosis surgery

P22. Recurrent CSF leak following repair of incidental durotomy in lumbar spinal stenosis surgery

Modified Wound Closure Technique in de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis

de Quervain’s release, or first dorsal compartment release, is a commonly performed procedure. There are several approaches to surgery including transverse and longitudinal incisions. The wrist is a sensitive area, and patients often report residual pain post-release. We offer a modified technique on wound closure in de Quervain’s release to facilitate a smoother postoperative experience by taking in account the patient experience from the finish of release until the time of suture removal. Prolene™ sutures that require removal are preferred over absorbable sutures due to skin reactions that occur with absorbable sutures that may cause more scarring, pain, and irritation to the radial sensory nerve. Additionally, the placement of Steri-Strips beneath the knot and cut end of suture, as well as one on top of the construct, ensures that there is minimal opportunity for prominent, stiff knots or sharp ends of suture to bother the patient. Altogether, from suture choice to purposeful Steri-Strip placement, our simple and quick modifications place high value in patient comfort and cosmesis, leading to improved patient satisfaction.

The objective: to optimize the treatment of children with the combined course of chronic gastroduodenitis (CGD) and primary arterial hypertension (PH) against the backdrop of hypomagnesemia by including the combined preparation of magnesium and vitamin В6 in the treatment regimen. Materials and methods. We examined 20 children aged 10 to 17 years with a combined course of CGD and PH

Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumors of the female genital tract and are associated with numerous clinical problems. Laparoscopic myomectomy is an absolute altermative to standard open surgical technique with comparable long-term results. Due to the wide use and improvement of operational techniques with laparoscopic access, the pressing issue is possibility of its use in women, who have leiomyomas of the uterus and reрroductive intentions. The attitude to the quality of endoscopic suturing of the uterus after the enucliation of the knot and capability of suture during the next pregnancy is controversial. The technical aspects of suture of uterine incisions and also experience and skill of a surgeon during myomectomy deserves special attention. Uterine ruptures during the pregnancy and delivery are connected with violation of suture techniques – one-row uterine suture is compared with layering, and it’s extremely important for the full recreation of uterine-wall integrity after the removal of leiomyoma; wide use of electrocoagulation, which can lead to burns of myometrium with the further worsening of tissue regeneration.Given the need for an individual approach to each patient with uterine fibroids and reproductive intentions, surgical technique, access, choice of energy and suture are determined by each surgeon depending on the size, localization of uterine fibroids and clinical course to obtain the most effective postoperative result. The article is dedicated to peculiarities of the laparoscopic myomectomy in women of reproductive age. Laparoscopic myomectomy, when performed by an experienced surgeon, can be considered a safe technique with good results in terms of pregnancy outcome. Key words: uterine fibroids, fibroid, myomectomy, laparoscopy, surgical technique.

Securing Mesh with Delayed Absorbable Suture Does Not Increase Risk of Prolapse Recurrence After Robotic Sacral Colpopexy.

Introduction and Objective: Nonabsorbable monofilament suture is traditionally used to secure vaginal mesh for robot-assisted sacral colpopexy (RASC) but can become exposed postoperatively requiring invasive vaginal removal. Polydioxanone delayed absorbable suture may avoid this. We sought to determine the objective and subjective impact of suture choice for mesh fixation. Materials and Methods: A cohort study was undertaken using a prospective registry and subjects were grouped based on type of suture at the time of RASC. Apical failure was defined as C point descent of >2 cm, anterior compartment failure was defined as pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q) Ba point of >0, and posterior compartment failure was defined as Bp point of >0. Patient-reported outcomes included urogenital distress inventory (UDI)-6 and QoL. Two-tailed t-test and chi-squared were used for analysis. Results: A total of 119 women underwent RASC between 2009 and 2016. Patients had similar preoperative characteristics (Table 1). All POP-Q, UDI-6, and quality of life (QoL) scores improved postoperatively (Tables 1 and 2). Apical failure was noted in 0, anterior failure was noted in 7 (average Ba +1.1 cm in failures), and posterior failure was noted in 4 (mean Bp +1.0 cm) at 16 months' follow-up. Failures in the anterior compartment were much more common in the nonabsorbable monofilament cohort (Table 2). Failures in the apical and posterior compartments were not significantly different between groups. Nine suture erosions were noted in the nonabsorbable monofilament cohort, five requiring excision in the clinic and two in the operating room. Two suture erosions were noted in the delayed absorbable cohort, 0 required excision. Postoperative UDI-6 and QoL scores did not vary significantly between groups (5.3 ± 4.0 vs 5.1 ± 4.0, p = not significant (NS), 2.8 ± 2.0 vs 2.8 ± 2.2, p = NS). [Table: see text] [Table: see text] Conclusion: Securing mesh with delayed absorbable monofilament did not appear to increase risk of failure in patients undergoing RASC and eliminates the need for suture excision postoperatively.

The Surgical Needle.

A variety of modern surgical needles are available to today's surgeon. However, a surgeon's preference of surgical needles, is usually influenced by experience, ease of use, and the postoperative result, such as scar quality. This article describes the selection of needle designs available, and their intended clinical applications. Key factors in the basic design of the surgical needle include, the quality of its alloy, surface coating, and needle geometry. The needle alloy provides strength and ductility. Silicon coating maintains the sharpness and consistency of penetration of the needle. Sharpness is also determined by the angle of the point and taper ratio of the needle. Needle sizes range from extremely fine microsurgical needles to very thick needles for sternal closure. Needlepoint type is selected based on the particular tissue type where they are used. A conventional cutting needle is used for tough tissue, such as skin, whereas a reverse cutting needle is selected to reduce the risk of tissue cutout. Round-body needles are used in tissues that are easy to penetrate and in crucial procedures such as tendon repair, where suture cutout would be disastrous. A blunt-point, round-body needle dilates rather than cuts, and is preferred in abdominal fascial closure, to prevent inadvertent visceral injury and bleeding. The taper-cut needle punctures and then dilates and is used for vascular anastomosis. Although the needle and suture choice are entirely the surgeon's, this article hopefully may serve as a reference for those who are deciding on these issues critically.

Suture choice to reduce occurrence of surgical site infection, hernia, wound dehiscence and sinus/fistula: a network meta-analysis.

There are many options and little guiding evidence when choosing suture types with which to close the abdominal wall fascia. This network meta-analysis investigated the effect of suture materials on surgical site infection, hernia, wound dehiscence and sinus/fistula occurrence after abdominal surgery. The aim was to provide clarity on whether previous recommendations on suture choice could be followed with confidence. In February 2017, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline, EMBASE and Science Citation Index Expanded were searched for randomised controlled trials investigating the effect of suture choice on these four complications in closing the abdomen. A reference search of identified trials was performed. Prisma guidelines and the Cochrane risk of bias tool were followed in the data extraction and synthesis. Two review authors screened titles and abstracts of trials identified. A random effect model was used for the surgical site infection network based on the deviance information criterion statistics. Thirty-one trials were included (11,533 participants). No suture material reached the predetermined 90% probability threshold for determination of 'best treatment' for any outcome. Pairwise comparisons largely showed no differences between suture types for all outcomes measured. However, nylon demonstrated a reduction in the occurrence of incisional hernias with respect to two commonly used absorbable sutures: polyglycolic acid (odds ratio, OR 1.91; 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.01-3.63) and polyglyconate (OR 2.18; 95% CI 1.17-4.07). No suture type can be considered the 'best treatment' for the prevention of surgical site infection, hernia, wound dehiscence and sinus/fistula occurrence.