Skin closure of inguinal herniorrhaphy wounds in short-stay patients

One hundred and twenty-two inguinal hernias were repaired in a consecutive series of 104 patients. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. In one, 66 wounds were closed by the traditional method of using interrupted non-absorbable skin sutures. In the second group, 56 wounds were closed with subcuticular Dexon sutures. The results of the two methods of skin closure were compared in the immediate postoperative period, at 2 weeks, 3 months and at more than 18 months after surgery. The final appearance of the wounds was similar in the two groups. Dexon has the advantage for short-stay patients of not requiring removal.