Subcutaneous tissue: to suture or not to suture at cesarean section.

OBJECTIVE

The null hypothesis for this investigation was that there was no difference in the frequency of wound disruption between women who had their subcutaneous tissues approximated with suture and those who did not during cesarean section.

METHODS

During alternating months, consecutive women delivered by cesarean section either did (N = 716) or did not (N = 693) have their subcutaneous tissues closed with suture. All data were analyzed using chi square, Student's t-test, Fisher's exact probability test, analysis of variance, or logistic regression.

RESULTS

A 32% decrease in the frequency of wound disruption was observed when subcutaneous tissues were brought into apposition with suture at cesarean section (P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Closure of Scarpa's and Camper's fascia with suture during cesarean section significantly decreased the frequency of wound disruption in this population.