Comparative study of a barbed suture, polyglecaprone and stapler in Pfannenstiel incisions performed for benign gynaecological procedures

INTERVENTION: This trial is taking place at the Istanbul Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Kartal Research and Training Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Approximately 117 patients will be recruited, 39 patients in each of the following three groups: 1. Skin incision closure with a barbed suture (copolymer of glycolide and e‐caprolactone) 2. Skin incision closure with intracutaneous polyglecaprone 3. Skin incision closure with stapler Patient allocation will be carried out as follows: A computer based randomisation will be prepared. The skin closure type will be printed on identical sheets of paper, which will be put into identical, consecutively numbered sealed opaque envelopes by a non‐participating colleague. CONDITION: Benign gynaecological diseases/skin incision closure ; Surgery ; Skin incision closure PRIMARY OUTCOME: 1. Pain for skin incision (post‐operative third day) SECONDARY OUTCOME: 1. Patient satisfaction (post‐operative sixth day); 2. Scar cosmesis score (post‐operative third month) INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Women between ages of 18 ‐ 45 years 2. Pfannenstiel incisions for benign gynaecological procedures 3. No previous lower abdominal incision Amended 11/02/10: 1. Women between ages of 18 ‐ 65 years