Aim: The aim of the present study was to compare skin closure using sutures versus staplers in electiveorthopaedic surgery cases that are followed for 4 weeks for postoperative surgical site infection.Material & Methods: The Present study was prospective observational study, carried out in the Department ofOrthopaedics for the duration of the study 24 months. A total of 100 patients were included in the study.Results: There was no significant difference in mean ages, gender, BMI, co-morbidities and smoking status (pvalue >0.05). The present study shows a statistically significant higher incidence of wound infection amongstapler group as compared to conventional sutures in terms of type of incision and type of wound closure.Among the Suture group, 14 out of the 50 had wound infection whereas in stapler group 36 out of the 50 hadwound infection and this difference was found to be statistically significant. Mean operating time did not differamong the two groups of staple and sutures while closure time was significantly higher in suture group.Prolonged wound discharged was observed more with staples while the problem was lesser in suture group. Thisdifference was also statistically significant with p value <0.05. More pain was felt by the patients in staple groupreported as number of patients with VAS score of 3 or higher. No significant difference was observed betweeninfection rate and wound dehiscence in the current study.Conclusion: By this study it can be concluded that sutures can be used for wound closure instead of staplers inelective orthopaedic surgical procedures as the rate of surgical site infections (SSIs) were less in patients whosewound closure were done using sutures.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to compare skin closure using sutures versus staplers in electiveorthopaedic surgery cases that are followed for 4 weeks for postoperative surgical site infection.Material & Methods: The Present study was prospective observational study, carried out in the Department ofOrthopaedics for the duration of the study 24 months. A total of 100 patients were included in the study.Results: There was no significant difference in mean ages, gender, BMI, co-morbidities and smoking status (pvalue >0.05). The present study shows a statistically significant higher incidence of wound infection amongstapler group as compared to conventional sutures in terms of type of incision and type of wound closure.Among the Suture group, 14 out of the 50 had wound infection whereas in stapler group 36 out of the 50 hadwound infection and this difference was found to be statistically significant. Mean operating time did not differamong the two groups of staple and sutures while closure time was significantly higher in suture group.Prolonged wound discharged was observed more with staples while the problem was lesser in suture group. Thisdifference was also statistically significant with p value <0.05. More pain was felt by the patients in staple groupreported as number of patients with VAS score of 3 or higher. No significant difference was observed betweeninfection rate and wound dehiscence in the current study.Conclusion: By this study it can be concluded that sutures can be used for wound closure instead of staplers inelective orthopaedic surgical procedures as the rate of surgical site infections (SSIs) were less in patients whosewound closure were done using sutures.