Postoperative Outcomes of Absorbable versus Nonabsorbable Sutures in Trigger Finger Release Closure: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

Surgical release is an effective treatment for refractory cases of trigger finger; however, the optimal suture material for skin closure remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis compares postoperative outcomes of absorbable versus nonabsorbable sutures following trigger finger (TF) release.

METHODS

This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines, including a total of 5 studies in the final analysis, comparing absorbable versus nonabsorbable sutures in TF release. Data extraction included suture type, and reported outcomes such as wound complications, functional outcomes, and patient satisfaction. A meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3, with statistical significance set at a P value less than 0.05.

RESULTS

Patients who received nonabsorbable sutures had significantly higher odds of wound dehiscence, which was analyzed as a specific wound complication (odds ratio [OR]: 2.83, P = 0.02). Nonabsorbable sutures were also associated with higher odds of surgical site infection (OR: 1.49) and postoperative antibiotic use (OR: 1.17); however, these differences were not statistically significant (P = 0.29 and P = 0.74, respectively). In contrast, overall wound complications, analyzed as a composite outcome, were significantly less frequent with nonabsorbable sutures on sensitivity analysis (OR: 0.42, P = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Nonabsorbable sutures were associated with a higher risk of wound dehiscence, whereas they demonstrated a lower rate of overall wound complications in sensitivity analysis following TF release surgery. These findings highlight differences between individual wound outcomes; however, the available evidence remains limited. Further high-quality studies are required to confirm these results and guide optimal suture selection.