Comparative study of time taken for skin closure, infection rate and postoperative pain in skin closure with sutures and staplers in open inguinal hernioplasty

Wound healing is a complex and dynamic process and is influenced by surgical technique. Optimal wound healing, with a minimal scar that compromises neither appearance nor function, is the desired result. This process is affected by both local and systemic factors. Many local conditions are readily controlled at the time of wound closure, and several fundamental principles of surgical wound closure exist that should be adhered to in the management. Skin is usually closed with sutures then later with skin staplers.Skin staplers are quick and easy to use, but an assistant is usually required to hold the skin edges accurately with forceps or skin hooks.Stapler's closure also causes considerably less damage to wound defenses than closure with least reactive non-absorbable suture. Standard suturing causes significantly more necrosis than stapling in myocutaneous flaps. We did this study to compare the time required for the closure of skin, infection rate, pain at the operated site with sutures and staplers in open inguinal hernia repair. 80 patients who were posted for elective open inguinal hernia surgery at Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute, porur, Chennai was included in this study. Time taken for closure of skin, infection rate and the pain was less in patients with stapler closure than with skin sutures