AN EVALUATION OF FASCIAL STAPLES (A NEW TECHNIQUE) IN WIDE FASCIAL PLICATION DURING RECONSTRUCTIVE ABDOMINOPLASTY

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the fascial stapler (a new te chnique) in the plication of the musculoaponeurotic fascia abdominopla sty in comparison to conventional (sutured) techniques, Thirty-eight p atients underwent abdominoplasty with rectus sheath plication, Patient s were randomized into staple and suture groups, Similar degrees of pl icationing were performed in both groups (range, 12-20 cm), Fascial re pairs were evaluated postoperatively at approximately 1 month and 6 mo nths, A small, but comparable, subclinical fascial separation was demo nstrated immediately in both the stapled and sutured groups, No progre ssion of fascial separation was observed in either group at 1 month an d 4 months postoperatively, No complications attributable to the fasci al closure were noted in either group, Operative time was considerably less with the stapled technique, The results, although early, suggest that the use of fascial staples for plicationing of the musculoaponeu rotic fascia during abdominoplasty is comparable to conventional (sutu red) techniques regarding complication rate and disruption rate, but a ppreciably decreases operative time.