Barbed versus conventional suture in elective posterior spine surgery

Barbed sutures are tissue control devices that can reduce operating room time and costs. We analyzed the utility of barbed sutures in posterior spinal surgery in order to prove non-inferiority to conventional methods for wound closure. A cohort of patients undergoing elective posterior spinal surgery in which barbed (prospective) versus conventional sutures (retrospective) were used was analyzed. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of wound healing complications or the need for surgical revision. Secondary endpoints included postoperative stay, readmission rate, and duration and cost of wound closure. A total of 483 patients participated in the study, 183 in the Barbed group and 300 in the Conventional group. Wound dehiscence or seroma occurred in 3.8