title: Randomized trial of skin closure after laparotomy for gynaecological surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  New suture materials may provide patients with a better cosmetic outcome at similar pain and wound complication rate.
  
  
  METHODS
  To assess pain and cosmetic outcome among patients randomized to receive wound closure after laparotomy for gynaecological surgery using staples, polyglecaprone 25 or polyglecaprone 6211 subcuticular sutures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 90 patients (87.4% consent rate) were randomized. There was no difference in wound complications and pain between the three groups. Patients randomized to polyglecaprone 6211 subcuticular sutures rated the cosmetic result at 1 and 6 weeks after surgery somewhat lower than patients randomized to the two alternative groups; however, at 3 months after surgery, all three groups rated the cosmetic result as similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that the three wound closure methods have similar short-term pain and cosmetic outcomes, as well as a similar rate of wound complications, leaving the decision of the most appropriate closure method to individual surgeons.
authors.affiliation: Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Queensland Centre for Gynaecological Cancer, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. andreas_obermair@health.qld.gov.au
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Obermair
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crandon
authors.forename: Lewis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Perrin
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carrazo
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nicklin
mesh_terms: D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D013537:Sutures