Surgical Wound Closure in Orthopaedic Surgery
Surgical Wound Closure in Orthopaedic Surgery
Surgical wound closure is a necessary step of every orthopaedic procedure and a myriad of available wound closure techniques and adjunctive modalities are being subjected to increasing scientific scrutiny. Wherever possible, all modifiable risk factors should be mitigated preoperatively and postoperatively. Relevant angiosomes should be understood in planning surgical approaches. Allgöwer-Donati vertical mattress sutures using 3–0 nylon work well for virtually all high-risk surgical wounds. Full-length adhesive strips with the capacity to stretch help decrease wound tension and are commonly employed. Incisional NPWT should be considered in the setting of high-risk wounds or obesity.
Conclusion
Surgical wound closure is a necessary step of every orthopaedic procedure and a myriad of available wound closure techniques and adjunctive modalities are being subjected to increasing scientific scrutiny. Wherever possible, all modifiable risk factors should be mitigated preoperatively and postoperatively. Relevant angiosomes should be understood in planning surgical approaches. Allgöwer-Donati vertical mattress sutures using 3–0 nylon work well for virtually all high-risk surgical wounds. Full-length adhesive strips with the capacity to stretch help decrease wound tension and are commonly employed. Incisional NPWT should be considered in the setting of high-risk wounds or obesity.
