title: Suture erosion and wound dehiscence with permanent versus absorbable suture in reconstructive posterior vaginal surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to determine the incidence of wound disruption after reconstructive posterior vaginal surgery with braided permanent versus absorbable suture.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study of women undergoing posterior vaginal surgery. Outcomes included suture erosion, wound dehiscence, and additional surgical procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-nine procedures were performed with permanent sutures, followed by 111 with absorbable sutures. There were no differences in demographics or comorbidities between patient groups. Suture erosion/wound dehiscence occurred in 31.3% of the permanent suture group versus 9% of the absorbable suture group (P = .003, odds ratio [OR] = 7.5, 95% CI 2-28). The need for additional surgical intervention was 16.1% among permanent suture group versus no patients with absorbable suture. Performing a concomitant anal sphincteroplasty with permanent sutures significantly increased the incidence of suture erosion (P = .003, OR = 4.7, 95%CI 1.7-13.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Permanent sutures increase the incidence in wound disruption and the need for additional surgical intervention in posterior colporrhaphy and anal sphincteroplasty.
authors.affiliation: MAHEC Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Asheville, NC 28801, USA.
authors.forename: Ali M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Luck
authors.forename: Shelley L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Galvin
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Theofrastous
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D013537:Sutures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000601:surgery; D014621:Vagina / Q000601:surgery*