Absorbable and nonabsorbable buried sutures for primary cleft lip repair

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Pediatric Surgery
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Cleft lip repair necessitates careful suture selection to minimize complications.
• Both absorbable and nonabsorbable sutures have been utilized, with varying outcomes.
• Understanding suture-related complications like stitch abscesses is crucial for optimizing surgical results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the incidence of stitch abscesses between absorbable and nonabsorbable buried sutures in primary cleft lip repair.
• To evaluate the cosmetic appearance of scars resulting from different suture materials.
• To determine the preferred suture type for improved patient outcomes in cleft lip surgery.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving two groups of patients undergoing primary cleft lip repair.
• Group 1: Repaired with nonabsorbable monofilament nylon sutures (N=56).
• Group 2: Repaired with absorbable polyglyconate and polydioxanone sutures (N=47).
• Patients were monitored for 12 months post-surgery.

Main Results:

• A significant difference in stitch abscess formation was observed (p = 0.007).
• Group 1 (nonabsorbable sutures) experienced a 14% rate of stitch abscesses.
• Group 2 (absorbable sutures) had no reported stitch abscesses.
• No significant difference in the cosmetic appearance of surgical scars was noted between the groups.

Conclusions:

• Absorbable sutures are associated with a significantly lower risk of stitch abscesses compared to nonabsorbable sutures in primary cleft lip repair.
• The choice of absorbable sutures may lead to improved surgical site healing without compromising aesthetic results.
• Absorbable sutures are recommended for primary cleft lip repair to reduce suture-related complications.