title: Extrafascial wound dehiscence: deep en bloc closure versus superficial skin closure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine closure time, pain experienced during closure, and healing time in patients undergoing deep en bloc closure or superficial skin closure of extrafascial would dehiscence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with extrafascial wound dehiscence on the obstetrics and gynecology service of the University of Mississippi Medical Center were randomized to deep en bloc closure or superficial skin closure. A 1:2 ratio was used to evaluate superficial skin closure, as deep en bloc closure is known to be effective. The wounds of patients in the deep en block group were closed with no. 1 polypropylene placed through the entire wound thickness as simple interrupted sutures. The wounds of patients in the superficial closure group were closed with 2-0 polypropylene placed through the skin as vertical mattress sutures. The wounds were closed on the patient care unit under local anesthesia. Closure was timed in minutes from initiation of local anesthesia to cutting of the last suture. Patients assessed pain by placing a mark on a 100-mm line (0 = none; 100 = maximum). Time for complete healing was measured from wound disruption to skin reepithelialization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During an 8-month period, seven patients were randomized to deep en bloc closure and 16 to superficial skin closure. The en bloc group required 27.1 +/- 5.5 minutes (mean +/- standard deviation) for closure, compared with 18.9 +/- 3.4 minutes in the superficial group (P < .001). The mean pain score in the en bloc group was 43.4 +/- 23.2 mm, compared with 16.6 +/- 11.4 mm in the superficial group (P < .001). The en bloc group required 22.7 +/- 7.7 days for complete healing, compared with 19.8 +/- 5.3 days in the superficial group, a nonsignificant difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Superficial skin closure of extrafascial wound dehiscence appears to be superior to deep en bloc closure in terms of closure time and pain experienced during the procedure. These benefits are achieved with minimal risk while allowing timely wound healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Dodson
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Magann
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Meeks
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing