EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF KNOTLESS BARBED SUTURES IN CAPSULAR CLOSURE FOLLOWING DISTAL FEMUR FRACTURE FIXATION.

Introduction: Good wound closure is an important step in management of distal femur fracture to prevent infection and faster rehabilitation. Knotless barbed sutures can save time and distribute wound tension evenly. However, its role in terms of functional outcome, closure time, and postoperative complications has not been studied in a distal femur fracture.

Material and methods: A total of 47 patients aged more than 18 years of distal femur fracture treated with distal femur locking plate were randomized either into either barbed or traditional suture groups. in the barbed group, capsular wound closure was carried out with 2-0 bidirectional barbed knotless sutures (Quill SRS^® PDO, Angiotech, Vancouver, BC, Canada). In patients assigned to group B, capsular closure was done with 1-0 Vicryl^® (Ethicon inc. Somerville, NJ) and 5-0 Ethibond^® alternatively.

Results: The mean flexion at the knee joint was 105.7±15.6 degrees in the study group while it was 110.4±13.7 in the control group (p= 0.2133). Mean estimated closure time was significantly shorter in the study group as compared to the control group (p<0.05). Cases of needle prick injury were higher in traditional suture group. Patients developed stitch abscess and superficial infection in both groups. However, the difference in incidence between the two was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Barbed suture is an efficient method of wound closure. It reduces wound closure time with similar complication rate as with use of conventional sutures. Evidence Level II; Randomized Clinical Trial.