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Barbed sutures reduce arthrotomy closure duration compared to interrupted conventional sutures for total knee
K Sundaram1, J A Warren1, A Klika1
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, A41, 9500 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
Background:
The broad aim of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of using barbed sutures versus standard-of-care sutures for closure of arthrotomy during total knee arthroplasty. Specifically, we compared the duration of arthrotomy closure, the number of sutures utilized for arthrotomy closure, and 90-day outcomes, including wound-related readmission, reoperation, and complications.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 60 patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty were enrolled in a prospective, blinded trial and randomized to receive either running closure of the arthrotomy with barbed sutures (n = 30) or interrupted closure with standard-of-care sutures (n = 30).
Results:
Arthrotomy closure time was significantly shorter in the barbed suture group (3 min ± 2 min) versus the standard-of-care group (13 min ± 5 min, p < 0.001). The average suture utilization for arthrotomy closure was 1 suture (range 1-2) versus 3 sutures (range 2-4) in the standard-of-care group (p < 0.001). The overall number of wound-related complications in the barbed suture group was 3/30 (10%) versus 3/30 (10%) in the standard-of-care group (p = 1.00). There was one dehiscence 1/30 (3%) in the standard-of-care group versus zero in the barbed suture group (p = 1.00). The rate of superficial surgical site infection was 1/30 (3%) in barbed suture versus zero in the standard-of-care groups (p = 1.00).
Conclusion:
These results suggest barbed suture utilization may be faster and more resource-efficient than the use of standard-of-care sutures for arthrotomy closure in primary total knee arthroplasty without increased complications. CLINICALTRIALS.
Gov Identifier:
NCT03285529.
