Simple Interrupted vs. Continuous Suturing in Abdominal Fascia Closure – A Thermographic Analysis in Rabbits

Aims: Thermography is an accepted method in different medical fields to detect and to visualize differences in the blood supply of tissue while following their temperature distribution. In this study, we compare the temperature profile of the simple interrupted vs. the continuous suture technique used for the closure of six rabbit abdominal fascia.

Methodology: The closure of rabbit fascia with a simple interrupted (n=3) or a continuous suture technique (n=3) was implemented, in particular under tension and tensionless conditions simulating possible strain situations for the fascia. The temperature profile of the wound healing process was compared during different operation stages for different tissue layers from the preoperative up to the postoperative period of 21 days followed by histology.

Results: The simple interrupted sutured fascia under 4 N tension experienced a significant temperature drop of 2ºC (P=0,01) for each single suture site as well as for the total suture line and did not achieve the same temperature level as before the application of the strain. On the contrary, the continuous sutured fascia experienced no significant temperature changes under 4 N tensions as well as after releasing the tension.

Conclusion: The thermographic analysis of the two compared suture techniques favored the continuous suture technique for the closure of fascia due to better vascularization and wound healing effects related to a more even distribution of tension across the entire length of the sutured fascia.