ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Whether knotless barbed suture applied in lumbar posterior fusion can shorten the suturing time and reduce incision complication has not been confirmed in clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: To explore whether knotless barbed suture has advantages in shortening the suturing time and reducing incision complication in lumbar posterior fusion. METHODS: Sixty-two patients with lumbar degenerative disease at Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine from January to December 2018 were selected, and all received lumbar posterior fusion. The patients were randomly divided Into trial group (n=33, the deep lumbar fascia was sutured using knotless barbed suture) and control group (n=29, the deep lumbar fascia was sutured using absorbable suture). The incision length, and the suturing time of deep fascia and subcutaneous tissue were compared between two groups. The suture quality was analyzed by leakage test. The Incision healing and complications were observed and recorded. The Visual Analogue Scale scores and Oswestry Dysfunction Index at baseline and 2 and 6 weeks, and 3 months after surgery were detected. The trial was approved by the Ethics Committee of Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (approval No. DZMEC-KY-2018-11). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The Incision length and subcutaneous tissue suture time showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). The suture time of deep fascia in the trial group was shorter than that in the control group [(8.0±0.9) vs. (11.6±1.7) minutes, P 0.05). (4) These results Indicate that the knotless barbed suture can reduce suturing time and Incidence of incision complications in posterior lumbar fusion.