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.

Abstract

<h4>Background</h4>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)?<h4>Methods</h4>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).<h4>Results</h4>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.<h4>Conclusion</h4>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.