The British journal of surgery
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Closure of midline laparotomy incisions with polydioxanone and nylon: the importance of suture technique.
The healing of midline laparotomy incisions closed with a continuous suture of nylon or second-generation polydioxanone was evaluated in a randomized clinical trial. The effect of suture technique, reflected in the suture length to wound length ratio, was also assessed. All patients who underwent abdominal surgery through a midline incision were included except those with incisional hernia after previous midline operation. ⋯ There was a significant correlation between the hernia rate and the suture to wound length ratio for both materials (P < 0.001). These results indicate that suture of midline laparotomy wounds is as safe with polydioxanone as it is with nylon. Incisional hernia is associated more with suture technique than with the material used.