Incisional complications after skin closure with stainless‐steel skin staples compared to nylon sutures in horses undergoing colic surgery
Authors: Orr Haion, A. Tatz, R. Dahan, Shiran Harel, G. Sutton, G. Kelmer
Journal: Equine Veterinary Education
Summary
# Incisional Closure in Equine Colic Surgery: Staples versus Sutures Ventral midline celiotomy incisions carry substantial risk of post-operative complications, yet evidence comparing closure methods remains limited in equine surgery. Researchers conducted a prospective randomised trial between 2012 and 2014, assigning 123 horses undergoing colic surgery to skin closure with either stainless-steel staples (65 horses) or nylon-0 sutures (58 horses), then tracking incisional complications through hospitalisation and owner follow-up questionnaires. Incisional drainage occurred in 43% of horses overall, with staple closure showing a marginally lower complication rate (40%) compared to sutures (46%), though this difference did not reach statistical significance; pregnancy and large colon lesions emerged as independent risk factors for complications, whilst surgeon experience appeared protective against incisional infection. The findings suggest staples present a viable alternative to traditional suturing for abdominal closure in horses, potentially offering practical advantages in terms of application speed and handling, though neither method demonstrated clear superiority in preventing complications—meaning closure technique selection may reasonably depend on surgeon familiarity and patient factors rather than material choice alone.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Stainless steel staples perform comparably to nylon sutures for ventral midline closure in colic surgery—either method is acceptable, so choose based on availability and surgeon preference
- •Expect higher incisional drainage rates (~40-46%) in post-operative colic cases regardless of closure method; be especially vigilant with pregnant mares and horses with large colon lesions
- •Surgical technique and surgeon experience appear to influence infection outcomes more than closure material itself; focus on meticulous surgical practice
Key Findings
- •Incisional drainage occurred in 43% of horses overall (40% staples group vs 46% sutures group), with no significant difference between closure methods
- •Pregnancy and large colon intestinal lesions were identified as significant risk factors for incisional complications
- •Surgeon experience/technique was a significant factor, with one surgeon achieving lower incisional infection rates
- •No association was found between incisional complications and subsequent hernia development