Use of knotless barbed sutures for closure of intraoral incisions for maxillofacial trauma: a randomised controlled trial

• Published in: British journal of oral & maxillofacial surgery 2021-02, Vol.59 (2), p.e72-e78
• Main Authors: Sharma, A.K., Thulasi Doss, G.P., Panneerselvam, E., Ganesh, S.K., Krishna Kumar Raja, V.B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Barbed; Dentistry; Humans; Knotless; Mandibular Fractures - surgery; Maxillofacial; Suture; Suture Techniques; Sutures; Trauma; Wound Healing
• ISSN: 0266-4356; 1532-1940
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2020.08.015

The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of knotless barbed sutures in intraoral wound closure for maxillofacial trauma in comparison with conventional (vicryl) sutures. This was a randomised controlled clinical trial involving 40 patients with isolated mandibular angle fractures who required intraoral incisions for open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). The sample was randomised into the study group (20 patients) and control group (20 patients). Following fracture fixation by a standardised surgical protocol, the wound closure was done with bidirectional knotless barbed suture and vicryl for the study and control groups, respectively. The wounds were closed in layers (periosteum and mucosa). All operations were performed by a single surgeon. Outcome parameters measured were intraoperative wound closure time and wound healing using ‘Landry’s wound healing index’ on the first, third, and seventh postoperative days. Statistically significant difference in suturing time was noted between the study and control group (p value