The effects of different suture techniques on wound healing in abdomibnal wall closure

Purpose: The aim this study was to investigate the effects of different suture techniques on the healing of abdominal wall wound. Materials and Methods: 24 male Wistar albino rats were included in this study. The rats were divided into two groups. A 4 cm midline laparatomy was performed after ketamine HCl anesthesia. In Group I, the incision was sutured with 4/0 polypropylene interruptedly and in Group II, the wound was closed with 4/0 polypropylene continuously. The skin was sutured with an interrupted 4/0 silk suture. Then 2 cc of blood was withdrawn for biochemical and hematological tests by cardiac puncture. All the rats were killed on the $7^th$ postoperative day. Tensile strength were measured and tissue samples were taken for hydroxyproline measurements and histopathological evaluation. Meanwhile intraabdominal adhesions were recorded. Results: Tensile strength was 751±31 g in Group I and 622±28 g in Group II. The difference was significant (p<0.05). Hydroxyproline levels were 3.13±0.15 µg/mg tissue in Group I and 2.81±0.15 µg/mg tissue in Group II. The difference was significant (p<0.05). Intraabdominal adhesions were found in 3 rats in Group I and in 6 rats in Group II. There was a significant difference between the two groups regarding tissue fibroblast numbers (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between serological and hematological tests in the two groups. Conclusion: Closing the abdominal wall wound with the interrupted suture technique gave better results than with the continuous suture technique.