title: Barbed versus traditional sutures: closure time, cost, and wound related outcomes in total joint arthroplasty.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare barbed sutures to traditional sutures in three domains: time, cost, and wound related outcomes in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA). A total of 34 patients were enrolled in a prospective randomized controlled trial to assess time to wound closure and cost. In addition, a retrospective chart review of an additional 100 patients was conducted to further assess wound-related outcomes. On average, barbed sutures decreased time to wound closure by 9.72 min (P<0.05) after controlling for length of incision, patient's BMI and number of physicians closing. Further, using barbed sutures saved an average of $549.59 per case. However, increased frequency and severity of wound complications were associated with barbed sutures.
authors.affiliation: Tufts Medical Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Eric L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Steven T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: DiSegna
authors.affiliation: Tufts Medical Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Pinak Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Shukla
authors.affiliation: Women's Musculoskeletal Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Elizabeth G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Matzkin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013537:Sutures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing
keywords: Quill suture; barbed suture; cost; hip arthroplasty; knee arthroplasty