Publication:

A randomised control trial comparison the efficacy between delayed-absorbable polydioxanone and non-absorbable suture material in abdominal wound closure

Background The objective of this study was to compare polydioxanone (PDS) and polypropylene (PPL) suture material for fascial closure in midline abdominal incisions using interrupted X sutures in terms of post - operative wound complications.

Methods Patients for clinical study were selected from the surgical wards of Chigateri District Hospital and Bapuji Hospital, Davangere, India with the following inclusion and exclusion criteria. A minimum of 50 cases of randomized midline laparotomy incisions were studied, after informed consent to either a polydiaxanone (PDS) or polypropylene (PPL) suture material. Equal numbers of cases were studied for closure with these two suture materials. The patients were followed-up 01, 02 weeks and then one month after surgery.

Results People around 36-45 years age group formed the maximum numbers in this study. Male to female ratio was 1.94:1. There was one burst abdomen (out of 25 cases, 4%) in polypropylene group and none (out of 25 cases) in polydiaxanone group. Incidence of wound infection was 12% (6 out of 25 cases) in polypropylene group compared to 6% (3 out of 25 cases) in polydiaxanone group. The relative risk of wound infection was 0.50. The complications like burst abdomen, wound infection and suture sinus incidence of suture sinus was 12% (3 out of 25 cases) in polypropylene group as compared to 4% (1 out of 25 cases) in polydiaxanone group. Infection rate was 12% (6 cases) in polypropylene group and 6% (3 cases) in polydiaxanone group.

Conclusions Hence interrupted X suture technique using polydiaxanone (PDS) for closure of midline laparotomy incision, is superior to polypropylene (PPL) suture material. Also PDS is superior in preventing major post-operative wound.