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Comparison of Subcuticular Suture Versus Surgical Staples for Closure of Pfannenstiel Skin Incisions

This study is currently recruiting participants.
Verified by St. Joseph's Healthcare, September 2005

Sponsored by: St. Joseph's Healthcare
Information provided by: St. Joseph's Healthcare
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00186732
  Purpose

This study compares methods of closure for Pfannenstiel incisions commonly used during gynecological and obstetrical surgery. Patients are assigned to closure by either surgical staples or a buried suture. Information is collected on the day of surgery, post-operative day two and at the six-week follow up visit. The amount of pain and cosmetic result are compared. Infection rates will also be monitored for the two groups.

The study hypothesis is as follows: subcuticular (buried) sutures as compared to surgical staples lead to decreased post-operative pain and improved cosmetic result. Infection rates are similar for both groups.


Condition Intervention
Pain, Postoperative
Gynecologic Surgical Procedures
Obstetric Surgical Procedures
Procedure: Subcuticular Suture
Procedure: Surgical Staples

U.S. FDA Resources

Study Type:   Interventional
Study Design:   Treatment, Randomized, Open Label, Active Control, Parallel Assignment, Efficacy Study
Official Title:   Pfannenstiel Incision Closure: Subcuticular Suture Versus Surgical Staples

Further study details as provided by St. Joseph's Healthcare:

Primary Outcome Measures:
  • Pain

Secondary Outcome Measures:
  • Cosmesis
  • Infection rates
  • Length of stay OR time
  • Overall patient satisfaction

Estimated Enrollment:   288
Study Start Date:   July 2005
Estimated Study Completion Date:   November 2006

Detailed Description:

There is little evidence in the literature to guide the choice of closure material for Pfannenstiel laparotomy. Currently this decision is based primarily on physician preference. Physicians differ greatly in their view on which is better. This is based on personal habit and experience and not on scientific evidence. Specifically in the field of obstetrics and gynecology there has only been one randomized trial of approximately 60 patients undergoing cesarean section comparing subcuticular suture vs surgical staples for closure of their Pfannenstiel skin incisions (Frishman et al., 1997). This study showed that Pfannenstiel skin incisions closed with subcuticular closure following cesarean section result in less postoperative pain and are more cosmetically appealing as compared to incisions closed with staples.

This randomized controlled study will compare closure of Pfannenstiel incisions using either subcuticular absorbable suture or surgical staples. It will examine two separate populations – those undergoing cesarean section and those undergoing gynecological surgery such as hysterectomy. These patient groups will be analyzed separately as their demographic characteristics tend to be quite different. The primary outcome will be postoperative pain. Cosmetic result will be a secondary outcome. Cosmesis will be rated both by the patient and the physician. Infection rates are also of great interest although it is unlikely that this study will achieve adequate power to show a statistically significant difference in results. Other outcomes of interest include overall patient satisfaction, total operating room time and length of hospital stay. Patient’s body mass index will also be recorded and analyzed to determine whether it affects results in both intervention groups.

There will be a minimum of 144 patients total in the cesarean section group and 144 patients total in the gynecological surgery group – 72 randomized to staples and 72 randomized to subcuticular suture for each group. Thus the entire study will involve approximately 288 patients.

  Eligibility
Genders Eligible for Study:   Female
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Undergoing gynecological or obstetrical surgery
  • Pfannenstiel skin incision
  Contacts and Locations

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00186732

Contacts
Contact: Cara Donnery, M.D     cara.donnery@learnlink.mcmaster.ca    
Contact: Richard Persadie, M.D.     (905) 522-1155 ext 6041     richardpersadie@hotmail.com    

Locations
Canada, Ontario
St. Joseph's Healthcare     Recruiting
      Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8N 4A6
      Contact: Cara A Donnery, MD         cara.donnery@learnlink.mcmaster.ca    
      Contact: Richard Persadie, MD     (905) 522-1155 ext 6041     richardpersadie@hotmail.com    
      Principal Investigator: Cara A Donnery, MD            
      Principal Investigator: Richard Persadie, MD            

Sponsors and Collaborators
St. Joseph's Healthcare

Investigators
Principal Investigator:     Cara A Donnery, MD     McMaster University Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident    
Principal Investigator:     Richard Persadie, MD     Staff Doctor: St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton    
  More Information


Study ID Numbers:   05-2484
First Received:   September 12, 2005
Last Updated:   June 11, 2007
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:   NCT00186732
Health Authority:   Canada: Health Canada

Keywords provided by St. Joseph's Healthcare:
wound closure  
Pfannenstiel incision  
surgical staples  
subcuticular suture  

Study placed in the following topic categories:
Signs and Symptoms
Postoperative Complications
Pain
Pain, Postoperative

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Pathologic Processes

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on October 24, 2008




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