Simple Continuous Suture Versus Continuous Horizontal Mattress Suture for Plication of Abdominal Fascia: Which is Better?

• Published in: Aesthetic plastic surgery 2012-10, Vol.36 (5), p.1015-1018
• Main Authors: Weissman, Oren, Zmora, Niv, Rozenblatt, Shira M., Tessone, Ariel, Nardini, Gil Grabov, Zilinsky, Isaac, Winkler, Eyal, Haik, Josef
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abdominoplasty - methods; Fasciotomy; Humans; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Models, Anatomic; Original Article; Otorhinolaryngology; Plastic Surgery; Suture Techniques
• ISSN: 0364-216X; 1432-5241
• DOI: 10.1007/s00266-012-9930-1

Background Abdominal fascia plication using a simple continuous suture can sometimes cause tears in the fascia. This problem can be circumvented when the continuous horizontal mattress suture is used. No data exist from comparing the two suturing techniques. The aim of this study was to examine which technique can potentially cause greater tissue damage. The time required to perform each type of suture was also recorded. Methods Wound closure pads were plicated using the simple continuous and continuous horizontal mattress techniques performed by a single operator using Ethilon 2-0 nylon sutures. To verify their resilience, plastic bags were inflated beneath the pads to 30, 60, and 120 mmHg and tears were recorded. The time needed to perform the procedures was recorded using a stopwatch. Results Mean time for the continuous vertical mattress suture was 87 s and for the simple continuous suture 116 s. Tears in the pad that was plicated with the simple continuous pattern were significantly longer than those in the pad plicated with the continuous horizontal mattress pattern (fissure mean length ± SD = 3.958 ± 0.157 vs. 2.736 ± 0.157, respectively, p