title: Clinical outcome and wound healing following carpal tunnel decompression: a comparison of two common suture materials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Debate exists amongst surgeons regarding the ideal suture material for skin closure in carpal tunnel decompression (CTD). This study compares wound related complications, patient satisfaction, and functional outcome following open carpal tunnel decompression in patients undergoing wound closure with either of two common absorbable and nonabsorbable suture types.
  
  
  METHODS
  53 patients underwent CTD with either 4/0 polypropylene (ProleneTM, n = 28) or 4/0 polyglactin (Vicryl RapideTM, n = 25) for skin closure. QuickDASH, VAS satisfaction scores, and Southampton wound scores were assessed preoperatively and at 2 and 6 weeks postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 6 weeks the mean QuickDASH scores postoperatively were 18.54 and 17.70 for absorbable and nonabsorbable sutures, respectively, (P = 0.86). The mean VAS scores were 0.61 and 0.42 (P = 0.91), respectively. All patients achieved a Southampton wound score of 0 by 6 weeks except one, who achieved 1C in the nonabsorbable group, equivalent to mild erythema. There were no complications in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both suture types are safe and effective materials for CTD, and we recommend surgeons to choose according to personal preference, handling properties, and resources available for suture removal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Macclesfield District General Hospital, East Cheshire NHS Trust, Victoria Road, Macclesfield SK10 3BL, UK.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: MacFarlane
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Macclesfield District General Hospital, East Cheshire NHS Trust, Victoria Road, Macclesfield SK10 3BL, UK.
authors.forename: Thomas D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Donnelly
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Macclesfield District General Hospital, East Cheshire NHS Trust, Victoria Road, Macclesfield SK10 3BL, UK.
authors.forename: Yousaf
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6449-5458
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Macclesfield District General Hospital, East Cheshire NHS Trust, Victoria Road, Macclesfield SK10 3BL, UK.
authors.forename: Syam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morapudi
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Macclesfield District General Hospital, East Cheshire NHS Trust, Victoria Road, Macclesfield SK10 3BL, UK.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waseem
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Macclesfield District General Hospital, East Cheshire NHS Trust, Victoria Road, Macclesfield SK10 3BL, UK.
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0445-9711
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fischer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011098:Polyglactin 910 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011126:Polypropylenes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013537:Sutures; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D011126:Polypropylenes; D011098:Polyglactin 910