title: The effects of continuous and interrupted episiotomy repair on pain severity and rate of perineal repair: a controlled randomized clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Perineal pain is the most common complaint after episiotomy. It imposes extra pressure on mothers who attempt to adapt to their new conditions. Therefore, the present study was performed to compare pain severity and perineal repair in two episiotomy repair methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this clinical trial, 100 primiparous women who referred to hospitals of Tabriz (Iran) for delivery were randomly allocated into two groups of 50 to undergo either continuous or interrupted episiotomy repair. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate pain severity 12-18 hours after episiotomy repair and also 10 days after delivery. Perineal repair rate was also assessed using the REEDA (redness, edema, ecchymosis, discharge, and approximation) scoring scale. The obtained data was analyzed in SPSS15.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical tests did not show significant differences between the 2 groups in pain severity variations or REEDA scores at 12-18 hours and the 10th day after delivery. However, the mean required time for repair and the number of used threads were significantly lower in the continuous repair group (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study showed that pain severity and episiotomy repair rate were similar in the two methods. Nevertheless, shorter time of repair and fewer threads were required using the continuous repair method. Therefore, this method would provide better services for mothers and reduce the required time, energy, and costs.
authors.affiliation: MSc, Instructor , Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Shirin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hasanpoor
authors.affiliation: MSc, Instructor , Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Soheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bani
authors.affiliation: MSc, Postgraduate Student, Department of Midwifery, International Aras Branch, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Rudabe
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shahgole
authors.affiliation: PhD, Assistant Professor, Reproductive Women's Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Morteza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gojazadeh
keywords: Episiotomy; Pain; Suture techniques