A randomised controlled trial comparing skin closure in total knee arthroplasty in the same knee: nylon sutures versus skin staples

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70 patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty were randomized into one of the following groups: wound closure with skin staples on the upper half and nylon sutures on the lower half of the wound, or wound closure with nylon sutures on the upper half and skin staples on the lower half of the wound. The purpose of this study was to compare the two wound closure techniques with regards to wound closure time, pain score at stitch removal, wound complication rate, patient satisfaction score, and the Hollander wound evaluation score. Findings indicated a quicker wound closure time using skin staples, but greater pain experience during removal compared to sutures. Wound complications, the patient satisfaction score, and the Hollander wound evaluation score were comparable between wound closure techniques.