Advantages Of Skin Closure With Staples In Orthopedic Surgery At Mardan Medical Complex

Abstract

Background: Wound closure is a fundamental aspect of surgery that impacts recovery, cosmetic outcomes, and postoperative complications. Among various closure techniques, sutures and staples are widely used, each with distinct advantages and limitations. Sutures offer precision and adaptability, while staples are valued for faster application and reduced surgical time. Despite their widespread use, comparative studies evaluating their effectiveness in orthopedic surgeries remain limited. Previous research highlights variability in outcomes such as infection rates, wound healing, and patient satisfaction across surgical settings, emphasizing the need for specialty-specific data. This study focuses on orthopedic wound closure, aiming to provide evidence-based insights for optimizing patient care.

Method: This prospective observational study was conducted in the orthopedic ward of Bacha Khan Medical College, Mardan, from January 2023 to December 2023. A total of 120 patients undergoing surgical wound closure with either sutures or staples were included. Patients aged 22–60 years were eligible, while those with pre-existing wound infections, immune deficiencies, or incomplete medical records were excluded. Data collection involved demographic details, clinical outcomes, and postoperative follow-ups. Key parameters included skin closure time, infection rates, wound discharge, necrosis, hypertrophic scar formation, and cosmetic outcomes. Statistical analyses were performed to compare outcomes between the two groups, with a p-value of <0.05 considered significant.

Result: A total of 120 patients (mean age: 42 years; 68 males, 52 females) were evaluated. The mean skin closure time was significantly shorter with staples (5.2 ± 0.9 minutes) compared to sutures (12.6 ± 1.5 minutes; p < 0.0001). Complication rates, including wound infections (6.6% in sutures vs. 3.3% in staples; p = 0.647), wound discharge (3.3% in both groups; p = 1.000), and hypertrophic scar formation (3.3% in sutures vs. 1.6% in staples; p = 1.002), were comparable. Wound necrosis occurred in 1.6% of suture cases but was absent in the staples group (p = 1.000). These findings indicate that staples offer faster skin closure without increasing complication rates.

Conclusion: Staples demonstrated a significant advantage in reducing skin closure time compared to sutures while maintaining comparable rates of complications such as infections and wound discharge. These results suggest that staples may be a preferable option for orthopedic wound closure, particularly in scenarios prioritizing efficiency. However, further studies are warranted to evaluate long-term outcomes and patient satisfaction comprehensively.