Suture length to wound length ratio and the integrity of midline and lateral paramedian incisions

Abstract

Abstract A total of 349 patients were randomized to undergo laparotomy through a lateral paramedian incision with layered closure (n = 137), a midline incision with mass closure (n = 104) or a midline incision using layered closure (n = 108), endeavouring to close the latter two incisions with a measured suture length to wound length ratio of greater than 4:1. After 18 months follow-up, no patient in the lateral paramedian group had developed an incisional hernia whereas 7 of 104 patients undergoing a midline incision with mass closure and 7 of 108 patients undergoing a midline incision with layered closure had incisional hernias (P<0·01). The mean suture length to wound length ratios for the three groups were 2·6 (range 1·3–6·2), 5·0 (range 3·0–8·7) and 3·7 (range 2·0–6·3) respectively (P<0·0001). The lateral paramedian incision remains superior to the midline incision closed with the mass technique and its integrity is independent of the suture length to wound length ratio.