Introduction: Barbed sutures employ evenly spaced spur – like appendages allowing for the even distribution of tension across the suture line eliminating knot tying. These sutures may have an advantage in device implant procedures (CID) by improving incision appearance and integrity.
Methods: To assess usefulness of this suture material during CID we compared retrospectively rate of closure success and complications in patients undergoing CID. We have reviewed charts of 624 patients that underwent CID (de-novo, upgrades and replacements) in our institution between January 2008 and July 2014. The primary outcome was closure success and pocket infection/dehiscence within 3 months of CID.
Results: Of the 624 patients, 211 were excluded secondary to incomplete data. Of the remaining, barbed sutures (Quill Surgical Specialties Corporation, Reading, PA) were used in 229 and non-barbed sutures in 184. In both groups pocket closure was successful. There was a non-significant trend toward a lower infection rate with barbed versus non-barbed suture 1.31%, vs 1.63% p= 0.78.
Conclusions: Barbed sutures may represent an alternative means of wound closure during CID.