Background This clinical trial evaluated the performance of a newly released fast-absorbable braided synthetic suture (Novosyn® Quick) in adults and paediatric patients undergoing elective skin closures. Methods This was a prospective international multicentre observational study. Two centres enrolled 100 patients, of which 50 were adults (visceral surgery, France) and 50 were paediatric patients (paediatric surgery, Germany). Surgeons used a 5-point Likert scale to assess handling characteristics of the suture. Patients and professionals used the Patient-Observer-Scar-Assessment-Scale (POSAS) to rate scar quality. Adverse events were monitored until 3 months postoperatively. Results Handling characteristics of Novosyn® Quick were in median rated very good by both general surgeons and paediatric surgeons. Patient components of POSAS (six questions; ten-level Likert scale; best possible score six) scored in median (range) 8.5 (6–28) in the paediatric group versus 12 (6–38) in the adult group, P = 0.01. Patients` overall opinions of POSAS were similar in both groups [mean (SD), 1.86 (0.99) in the paediatric group versus 2.08 (1.35) in the adult group, P = 0.3536]. Observer component of POSAS (six parameters; ten-level numeric rating scale, best possible score six) scored comparably in both groups [median (range), 8 (6–29) in the paediatric group versus 10 (6–28) in the adult group, P = 0.1403]. Observers overall opinion of POSAS favoured the paediatric patients group [mean (SD), 1.48 (0.61) versus 1.92 (1.06) in the adult group, P = 0.0131]. Adverse events in relation to wound healing were not observed in both patient groups. Conclusions Our findings indicate, that Novosyn ® Quick is safe and reliable for skin closure in adults and paediatric patients and can be regarded as a viable alternative to Vicryl ® Rapide. Trial registration This trial was registered prospectively with ClinicalTrials.gov under the registration number NCT02680886 on 5 February 2016. The trial was approved by the Institutional Review Boards of both study locations (France: CCTIRS N° 16–103 and CNIL:MMS/CWR/AR163920; Germany: 398/15). Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12893-019-0506-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

We report a case of a 2-day-old neonate with bilious vomiting and abdominal distension. A small bowel obstruction with ileal perforation due to a misplaced clamping of the umbilical cord was apparent before laparotomy. This complication was a sequala after clamping the cord too close to the abdominal wall in a case where there was a hernia into the cord with intestinal content. A herniation of abdominal contents due to an omphalocele minor or a hernia must be taken into consideration during the inspection of the umbilical cord before clamping.