The authors compare a conventional model of external splint for retention suture for closure of the abdominal wall to a new model, developed by Bioengineering Institute of Erasto Gaertner Hospital (Instituto de Bioengenharia do Hospital Erasto Gaertner/ IBEG) - the MK model, evaluating its effectiveness, occurrence of complications, esthetic aspect, pain in surgical wound e economic viability. Between May and July 1996, 66 patients undergoing to abdominal surgery in two hospitals of Curitiba were randomly allocated to model MK or conventional model. MK model had shown a significant lower incidence of complications as: wound hematoma (p=0,01), serous formation (0,01), subcutaneous abscess (p=0,01) and ulceration resulting from retention suture (p=0,02). Concerning wound pain, model MK was better tolerated by the patients, with statistically significant difference (p=0,004). Esthetic result and the occurrence of dehiscence, evisceration, incisional hernia and infection had shown no significant difference between the two groups. MK model had shown advantages as an external splint for retention suture, when compared with the conventional model, with a lower incidence of complications and local pain.
Abdominal wall; Suture; Surgical wound dehiscence