Skin Staples in Potentially Contaminated Wounds

Randomized controlled trial comparing subcuticular absorbable suture with conventional interrupted suture for wound closure at elective operation of colon cancer

“…In a mouse model of skin wounds contaminated with an intraoperative bacterial inoculum of Staphylococcus aureus, running subcuticular sutures were greatly inferior to staples. 30 Our results showed that the incisional SSI rates were comparable at 11.0% (90% CI 7.0-16.3%) in both suture groups (Table II). Preliminary analysis of the present data did not find statistical significance for any of the risk factors 18 associated with incisional SSI.…”

Comparison of gross and histologic tissue responses of skin incisions closed by use of absorbable subcuticular staples, cutaneous metal staples, and polyglactin 910 suture in pigs

“…2,15 Despite these factors, the incidence of infection in noncontaminated surgical wounds is relatively low. 20 Metal staples have been reported 8,27 to provide a tighter closure than buried subcuticular or cutaneous nylon suture, thus decreasing the ability of surface bacteria to migrate through the incision line. In the present study, only 2 pigs developed purulent exudate along 1 incision each (an incision closed with polyglactin 910 suture and the other closed with metal staples), and both pigs were treated for 4 days with an antimicrobial.…”

Abdominal skin incision closure with non-absorbable sutures versus staples- a comparative study

“…6,10 Other studies favored the use of staples for better cosmetic results. 8,17,18 A study was more specific in giving verdict in the form of conventional methods were more cosmetically acceptable for transverse wounds and staples had more or less equal cosmesis in vertical wounds. 8 With respect to infection/inflammation, few of the studies indicated an increased incidence associated with staple and a few studies contradicted the studies with an opinion that staples were associated with less infection and inflammation.…”

“…7,20 In contaminated surgical procedure, one of the study pointed that skin staples could provide an alternate method of skin closure. 18 There was also a meta-analysis favoring use of staples in evaluated types of surgeries in reducing wound infection. 10 Finally a meta-analysis comparing the use of staples verses suture for surgical procedures went to support staples theoretically as it reduced the operative time and reduction in the operative time has the potential to reduce tissue handling and associated tissue injury.…”