Peri-incisional perfusion does not differ between running versus interrupted Allgöwer-Donati suture technique in ankle fracture surgery: a pilot randomized controlled trial of wound perfusion

OBJECTIVES: To compare peri-incisional perfusion, perfusion impairment and wound closure time between the conventional interrupted Allgöwer-Donati (IAD) technique and a modified running Allgöwer-Donati (RAD) technique in ankle fracture surgery. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial. SETTING: Level I and II trauma centers. PATIENTS: Twenty-five healthy adults with ankle fractures (AO/OTA 44-A, 44-B, or 44-C) between November 2017 and December 2018. (Of 26 patients enrolled in this study, 1 was lost to follow-up.) INTERVENTION: Participants were randomized into the IAD or the RAD group (13 patients each). All participants were followed for at least 3 months after surgery to assess for wound complications. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Skin perfusion was assessed immediately after wound closure with laser-assisted indocyanine green angiography. Wound closure time, mean incision perfusion, and mean perfusion impairment were measured and compared with analysis of variance. Alpha = 0.05. RESULTS: The RAD technique was significantly faster in terms of mean (± standard deviation) wound closure time (6.2 ± 1.4 minutes) compared with the IAD technique (7.3 ± 1.4 minutes) (P = 0.047). We found no differences in mean incision perfusion and mean perfusion impairment (all, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The IAD and RAD techniques resulted in similar peri-incisional perfusion and perfusion impairment. Closure time was significantly shorter for the RAD technique compared with the IAD technique. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I