Running subcuticular skin closure with absorbable suture may have a lower deep surgical site infection rate compared to skin staples in open posterior lumbar spine surgery.

BACKGROUND

Is there a higher risk of surgical site infection (SSI) after posterior lumbar spine surgeries closed with staples versus running subcuticular closures with absorbable suture (RSAS)?

METHODS

After institutional review board approval, we retrospectively identified open posterior lumbar spine surgical closures utilizing skin staples (staples group: 123 cases) or RSAS (RSAS group: 382 cases) performed by three surgeons who used both methods (2018-2020).

RESULTS

The rate of deep SSI in the RSAS group was 1.8% versus 5.7% for the staples group. There were no significant differences in demographics, comorbidities, extent of surgery, and length of hospital stay between the two groups. Although there was a greater percentage of previous surgery at the same site in the RSAS group, their rate of SSI was still lower than that for the staples group.

CONCLUSION

Skin closure with skin staples appeared to have a greater risk for deep SSI (5.7%) versus RSAS (1.8%) for patients undergoing open posterior lumbar surgeries.