Wound dressing following primary total hip arthroplasty: a prospective randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study compared three methods of surgical wound dressing in patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty to determine their effect on wound leakage.

METHOD: Total hip arthroplasties were randomised to 3 groups: 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (Dermabond-Ethicon Inc, G) with Opsite (Smith & Nephew; O) [G+O], 2-octyl cyanoacrylate with Tegaderm (3M; T) [G+T], and Opsite without 2-octyl cyanoacrylate [O]. Postoperative wound leakage was assessed and graded daily until discharge, the frequency of the dressing changes was also recorded. Patients were clinically reviewed at three months to assess cosmesis of their surgical scar and wound complications.

RESULTS: In all 211 total hip arthoplasties were included. A greater proportion of patients' dressings remained dry on day 1 postoperatively in the two groups using 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (G+O and G+T) compared to the no glue group (O; p=0.0001). The G+T group had a significantly lower proportion of patients with increased leakage of wounds on days 2 and 3 postoperatively compared with both G+O and O groups (p=0.0043). The overall rate of dressing change for G+O was 8%, G+T 5%, and O 13%. Overall wound cosmesis was similar in all groups (p=0.690).

CONCLUSION: The reduction in frequency of dressing changes coupled with low levels of wound leakage observed using the combination of the glue and nonabsorbent dressings (O+T), makes this combination of wound closing products ideal for facilitating enhanced recovery and early discharge programmes in elective hip arthroplasty.