Simple Running Suture Research Articles

Frequency of Use of Suturing and Repair Techniques Preferred by Dermatologic Surgeons

There are many closure techniques and suture types available to cutaneous surgeons. Evidence-based data are not available regarding the frequency of use of these techniques by experienced practitioners. To quantify, by anatomic site, the frequency of use of common closure techniques and suture types by cutaneous surgeons. A prospective survey of the members of the Association of Academic Dermatologic Surgeons that used length-calibrated visual-analog scales to elicit the frequency of use of specific suture techniques. A response rate of 60% (61/101) indicated reliability of the received data. Epidermal layers were closed most often, in descending order, by simple interrupted sutures (38-50%), simple running sutures (37-42%), and vertical mattress sutures (3-8%), with subcuticular sutures used more often on the trunk and extremities (28%). The most commonly used superficial sutures were nylon (51%) and polypropylene (44%), and the most common absorbable suture was polyglactin 910 (73%). Bilayered closures, undermining, and electrocoagulation were used, on average, in 90% or more sutured repairs. The median diameters (defined as longest extent along any axis) of most final wound defects were 1.1 to 2.0 cm (56%) or 2.1 to 3.0 cm (37%). Fifty-four percent of wounds were repaired by primary closure, 20% with local flaps, and 10% with skin grafting, with the remaining 15% left to heal by second intent (10%) or referred for repair (5%). Experience-related differences were detected in defect size and closure technique: defects less than 2 cm in diameter were seen by less experienced surgeons, and defects greater than 2 cm by more experienced surgeons (Wilcoxon's rank-sum test: p=.02). But more experienced surgeons were less likely to use bilayered closures (r=-0.28, p=.036) and undermining (r=-0.28, p=.035). There is widespread consensus among cutaneous surgeons regarding optimal suture selection and closure technique by anatomic location. More experienced surgeons tend to repair larger defects but, possibly because of their increased confidence and skill, rely on less complicated repairs.

Enhanced Cosmetic Outcome with Running Horizontal Mattress Sutures

Cutaneous sutures should provide good wound eversion, firm closure, and cosmetically elegant results. Simple running sutures are commonly employed in cutaneous surgery but may not always be effective in achieving wound eversion. We compared the cosmetic results of simple running nonabsorbable sutures with running horizontal mattress sutures in primary closures of facial defects. Fifty-five patients with facial Mohs surgery defects appropriate for primary multilayer repair were randomized into one of two arms. Either the superior or the inferior half of the wound was closed with a running horizontal mattress suture. The other half of the wound was closed with a traditional simple running suture. At 1 week, 6 weeks, and 6 months, the cosmetically superior half of the wound, if any, was blindly determined by the investigators. The running horizontal mattress suture was significantly more cosmetically pleasing than the simple running suture. Forty-seven patients completed the study. At the 6-month follow-up, 25 patients did better with the horizontal suture and 5 did worse, and with 17 patients, there was no clinically perceptible difference. The 6-week scores predicted the outcome at 6 months, but the 1-week scores did not. In primary closures of the face, the running horizontal mattress suture is a cosmetically elegant alternative to a traditional running cutaneous suture. The final scar appears smoother and flatter than those produced by traditional simple running sutures.

Running Combined Simple and Vertical Mattress Suture: A Rapid Skin-Everting Stitch

Vertical mattress sutures are used in skin surgery to produce eversion of the wound edges, which produces a better, cosmetically acceptable scar. The disadvantages of this closure include the risk of wound hypereversion if tied too tightly, longer time to perform the stitch, and difficulties with grasping the externalized loops during suture removal. To examine and discuss the new modification of running vertical mattress sutures, which can overcome the disadvantages. Running combined simple and vertical mattress suture techniques are presented in a series of schematic diagrams that follow. The running combined simple and vertical mattress is easier and quicker to close the wound than the classic interrupted or running vertical mattress suture. Whereas the mattress suture everts the wound edges, the simple suture coapts the sides, preventing undue inversion or hypereversion of the wound. Suture removal is less uncomfortable for the patient and is performed faster by the medical staff owing to a reduction in the number of externalized loops by half compared with the classic vertical mattress stitch. Alternation of the vertical mattress and simple running suture saves the surgeon's time without lessening the advantages of good wound eversion and hence the formation of a less apparent, cosmetically more appealing scar after wound contraction.

Gliding resistance after repair of partially lacerated human flexor digitorum profundus tendon in vitro

Objective. This study reports the gliding resistance between repaired, partially lacerated tendon and pulley in human cadaver digits, using several commonly employed repair techniques. Background. Suture techniques with multi-strands and locking loops have been recommended to reduce the risk of rupture of the repair tendon with early active motion. Such sutures may increase the gliding resistance, and the gliding resistance after tendon repair is also an important factor influencing the rehabilitation. Method. 105 specimens of second, third, or fourth fingers from 36 adult human hands were tested for the gliding resistance between flexor digitorum profundus tendon and A2 pulley in the normal condition. After an 80% laceration, each tendon was repaired with one of the following suture techniques: (1) Kessler; (2) modified Kessler; (3) Savage; (4) Lee; (5) Tsuge; and (6) Becker. All suture techniques were reinforced with a circumferential epitenon simple running suture. After tendon repair, the gliding resistance was remeasured. Results. The gliding resistance of the Becker repair was significantly greater than each of the other four repairs ( P<0.05). The resistance of the modified Kessler repair was significantly less than that of the Kessler, Savage, or Tsuge repairs. Conclusions. We conclude that the type of tendon repair can significantly affect the gliding resistance between the tendon and pulley system after tendon repair. Relevance The design of the tendon repair, through its effect on friction, may have an adverse effect on the clinical results of tendon mobilization.

Gliding characteristics of tendon repair in canine flexor digitorum profundus tendons

The gliding resistance between the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendon and the proximal pulley system was measured using the method of S. Uchiyama, J.H. Coert, L. Berglund, P.C. Amadio, K.N. An (J. Orthop. Res. 13 (1995) 83) in 108 adult dog digits in vitro. The FDP tendons were then lacerated to 80% of their transverse section. Each tendon was repaired with one of the following six suture techniques: Kessler, modified Kessler, Savage, Lee, Becker and simple running suture alone. Each repaired tendon was then tested again using the same method. The Student–Newman–Keuls test for multiple comparisons was performed for statistical analysis. The average gliding resistances of the Kessler, Savage, and Becker repairs were significantly greater than the resistances of the Lee, modified Kessler, and running suture alone repairs ( P<0.05). The Lee suture technique had a significantly greater resistance than the modified Kessler repair and the running suture ( P<0.05). The results of the peak gliding resistance followed the same trends, except that the modified Kessler repair was significantly higher than the running suture alone ( P<0.05). Suture techniques with a multi-strand core suture, with knots located outside the tendon surface, and with multiple-loops on the tendon surface may result in increased gliding resistance between the tendon and pulley system after tendon repair.

Results of duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy for pancreaticoduodenectomy billroth I type reconstruction in 100 consecutive patients

BACKGROUND: This study retrospectively analyzed 100 consecutive patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) and pylorus-preserving PD (PPPD) with a Billroth I type reconstruction and pancreaticojejunostomy by duct-to-mucosal anastomosis using a continuous running suture. STUDY DESIGN: Seventy patients underwent PD and 30 patients PPPD for pancreatic cancer in 33, bile duct cancer in 28, ampullary or duodenal tumor in 22, chronic pancreatitis in 8, and other gastrointestinal cancer in 9. Postoperative pancreatic anastomotic leakage was diagnosed from skin excoriation around the drain site, and was defined as a high concentration of amylase in drainage fluid or leakage demonstrated on x-ray. RESULTS: The mortality rate was 2% overall (2.8% in PD, 0% in PPPD). The morbidity rate was 23% overall (12.8% in PD, 46.7% in PPPD). Pancreatic anastomotic leakage was 4.0% overall (2.8% in PD, 6.7% in PPPD). The incidence in the ampullary or duodenal tumors was 9.1% overall (0% in PD, 14.3% in PPPD). Biliary leakage occurred in four patients, 4.0% overall (4.3% in PD, 3.3% in PPPD), intraabdominal hemorrhage in 2% (2.8% in PD, 0% in PPPD), and lethal anastomotic leakage in one patient, overall rate 1% (1.4% in PD, 0% in PPPD). Delayed gastric emptying had the highest morbidity and was seen exclusively in PPPD (39.3%). CONCLUSIONS: A simple continuous running suture and parachuting for duct-to-mucosal pancreaticojejunostomy makes pancreaticoduodenectomy a safe procedure, even in a Billroth I type reconstruction.

Emergency Room Thoracotomy: A Single Surgeon's Thirteen-Year Experience

Our objectives were to elucidate the postoperative complications in patients who have had emergency room thoracotomy (ERT), to define anatomic and physiologic parameters that are compatible with survival and to document the evolution of management of these patients. A single surgeon's experience over a 13-year period was reviewed. All patients where he was the primary or supervising surgeon for the ERT were included. Data were analyzed for mechanism (penetrating/blunt), hospital where performed, survival to intensive care unit, survival to discharge, and postoperative complications. Among survivors, data were analyzed for the anatomic injuries and the patients' physiologic condition in the field and on arrival. There were a total of 102 patients; penetrating injury 94 (92 percent); blunt, 8 (8 percent). Ten patients (10 percent) reached the intensive care unit alive. Three of the ten (30 percent) died at 2 hours, 12 hours, and 7 days postoperatively. Seven patients survived to hospital discharge. All seven had penetrating chest injuries and were not in cardiac arrest when first examined by paramedics. Four of the seven survivors (57 percent) had major complications. Survival for the early period was 1.6 percent (1/62) and for the later period 15 percent (6/40); P < 0.05. During the study period, changes in patient management included 1) for penetrating torso injury, withholding ERT when survival was extremely unlikely; 2) increased use of blood- and fluid-warming measures; 3) elimination of aortic cross-clamping, instead judiciously using manual compression; 4) making the main purpose of ERT the relief of cardiac tamponade; and 5) immediately controlling any cardiac injury with a simple running suture on a large needle. We conclude the following: 1) The postoperative course after ERT carried significant mortality and morbidity. 2) Compatibility with survival required both the absence of cardiac arrest when initially evaluated in the field and the presence of penetrating chest injury. 3) Significant changes occurred in patient management during this 13-year period. Survival was higher in the latter part of this period.

Avaliação da resistência de suturas duodenais com ou sem omentoplastia pediculada: estudo experimental em ratas

Estudamos os efeitos da omentoplastia pediculada como método de reforço de suturas sobre o duodeno. Foram utilizadas 135 ratas HOLTZMAN, divididas em nove subgrupos de quinze ratas cada (n=15). Após a realização de uma lesão padronizada na segunda porção do duodeno, os animais, exceto os do grupo controle, foram submetidos, dependendo do subgrupo, a dois tipos diferentes de reparos: n sutura da lesão e omentoplastia pediculada de reforço. n sutura da lesão sem omentoplastia de reforço. A avaliação da resistência do reparo da lesão duodenal, foi realizada através da insuflação de ar até a ruptura do segmento testado. Esta avaliação foi feita em três períodos pós-operatórios diferentes: dois, sete e 14 dias em todos os subgrupos. O coeficiente de variação (CV) foi utilizado como forma de avaliar a variabilidade interna das variáveis centrais do estudo. Nos casos em que a análise indicou a existência de influência de algum fator ou de interações entre os fatores estudados, realizamos as comparações múltiplas de médias segundo o teste "Least Significant Difference" (LSD). Os achados mostraram que a realização de uma omentoplastia pediculada como reforço de um reparo sobre uma lesão padronizada do duodeno, quando comparado a uma simples sutura, não aumentou a resistência do reparo. Não importando o dia de pós-operatório em que o teste de resistência foi realizado. Os achados histológicos demonstraram que a omentoplastia pediculada proporcionou reação inflamatória intensa no nível do reparo.

Mechanical strengths of tendon sutures: An in vitro comparative study of six techniques

A comparative study of six tendon suturing techniques (1. Modified Kessler + simple epitendinous running suture; 2. Modified Kessler + Halsted epitendinous suture; 3. "Six strand" suture; 4. "Interlocking" suture; 5. "Cross stitch" suture; 6. simple epitendinous running suture) was carried out by evaluating strength in relation to the beginning of separation between the tendon stumps, a 3 mm separation and rupture in porcine flexor tendons. The technique most resistant to initial separation was the modified Kessler + Halsted epitendinous suture followed by the "Six strand" suture. The "Six strand" suture was the most resistant to the 3 mm separation and rupture followed by the modified Kessler + Halsted epitendinous suture. Despite the greater resistance to rupture of the "Six strand" technique, we conclude that modified Kessler + Halsted epitendinous suture showed the best overall performance and was easier to use.

Immediate Skin Expansion

Intraoperative skin expansion is not a new concept. We have developed a technique using readily available inexpensive material to achieve wound closure. In this prospective study, 15 patients (age range, 1-72 years) with melanoma, giant nevi, scars, meningocele, gastroschisis, alopecia, thrombosed renal dialysis fistula, calcified nodule and trauma, with defects on back, limbs, abdomen, scalp, hand, calcaneum, and sole of foot were treated. Only hypodermic needles and dental wire, with an overall cost of less than a dollar, are needed for the immediate skin expansion technique. In contrast, the numerous other commercial devices currently in use are costly and must be ordered in advance. Using our technique, the wound can be gradually approximated and subcutaneous sutures placed with the device in situ. An intradermal or simple running suture is then placed to approximate the skin edges under little or no tension and the device is removed. All patients had a good result with minimal morbidity. The wounds treated by this technique healed by primary intention except in 3 patients, who developed minor dehiscence of the wounds.

Biomechanical studies of running suture for flexor tendon repair in dogs

A new running-locking loop suture technique has been developed to increase tendon repair strength and to provide better tendon edge inversion. Biomechanical analysis documented the failure mechanism and the failure strength of various circumferential repair techniques. When compared with two well-known techniques, the simple circumferential running suture and Lembert running suture, the locking suture technique was shown to have 3.77 and 1.68 times greater tensile failure strength and 1.73 and 1.26 times greater stiffness than these traditional suture methods. A running peripheral locking suture may help augment the strength of tendon repair.