Analysis of the effect of incision size and suture method on incision healing and drainage time of calcaneal fracture surgery

Liu Zhangzhang; Qi Yansong; Hu Sanbao

doi:10.3760/j.issn.1673-4777.2025.04.016

Abstract：Objective To analyze the influence of different incision size and suture methods on the healing of calcaneal fracture incision,and to identify the independent factors affecting the healing of calcaneal incision.Methods This study was a contemporaneous parallel controlled clinical study.A total of 120 patients who underwent emergency open reduction and internal fixation of calcaneal fractures in Department of Orthopedics,Beijing Anzhen Hospital,Capital Medical University from January 2018 to December 2020 were selected as the research objects.According to the order of admission,they were divided into groups A(traditional lateral incision+intermittent mattress suture),B(traditional lateral incision+subcutaneous suture),C(traditional lateral incision+wound adhesive),D(limited incision+intermittent mattress suture),E(limited incision+subcutaneous suture),F(limited incision+wound adhesive),with 20 cases in each group.The suture time,drainage time,incision healing time,hospital stay and other clinical indicators were compared between the groups.Results The comparison between groups with the same incision method showed that the suture time and drainage time in group C were significantly shorter than those in groups A and B,and the suture time and drainage time in group F were signifi-cantly shorter than those in groups D and E.The drainage time in group E was significantly shorter than that in group D(all P＜0.05).The limited incision group was compared with the traditional incision group,the suture time in group D was significantly shorter than that in group A,and the suture time in group E was significantly shorter than that in group B(both P＜0.05).The comparison between groups with the same suture method showed that the drainage time of groups D,E,and F was shorter than that of groups A,B,and C,respectively.The wound healing time of group F was significantly shorter than that of group C(all P＜0.05).The results of correla-tion analysis showed that the incision size and suture method were correlated with drainage time(r=-0.360,-0.575,both P＜0.001)and wound healing time(r=-0.284,P=0.002;r=-0.203,P=0.026).In addition,the incision size and wound healing time were also correlated with the length of hospital stay(r=0.116,P=0.021;r=0.779,P＜0.001).The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that the incision size and suture method were both independent factors affecting the drainage time(both P＜0.001),and the incision size was the only independent factor affecting the incision healing time(P=0.002).Conclusions Incision drainage time of calcaneal fractures is affected by incision size and suture method,while incision healing is only affected by incision size.The method of limited incision+wound adhesive has the advantages of shortening the drainage time and wound healing time.