Skin closure during appendicectomy: a controlled clinical trial of subcuticular and interrupted transdermal suture techniques.

Over an 18-month period, 100 consecutive patients who underwent appendicectomy were randomly allocated to have skin closure either by interrupted transdermal or subcuticular techniques. Ninety cases were performed as emergencies within 6 h of admission. Only cases of acute uncomplicated appendicitis were included. Complications arising from the method of wound closure used were assessed. It was noted that the mean wound closure time and cost of material were significantly reduced in the group using the subcuticular technique (P less than 0.025). The wound infection rate was the same in both groups, but when all wound complications were taken together, there was a significantly higher incidence with the interrupted method. The results from this trial indicate that subcuticular wound closure during appendicectomy--an operation with a high risk of infection--is not associated with an increase in the incidence of wound complications and offers a cost and time-saving advantage.