COMPARISON OF STAINLESS-STEEL FASCIAL STAPLES AND POLYPROPYLENE SUTURE MATERIAL FOR CLOSURE OF THE LINEA-ALBA IN DOGS

Five centimeter segments of the linea alba in mature, female, mixed br eed dogs were incised and then approximated with either stainless stee l fascial staples or size 0 polypropylene suture material. Breaking st rength of the linea alba closures was determined at 0 (Phase I, 18 dog s) and at 7,14, and 31 days (Phase II, 18 dogs). Histology and videoin teractive planar morphometry were used to evaluate healing of the line a alba. Breaking strength and histologic and morphometric variables we re analyzed statistically using analysis of variance in a split plot d esign. In a clinical trial, 20 cm linea alba incisions were approximat ed with stainless steel fascial staples after elective ovariohysterect omy in mature, female, mixed breed dogs (Phase III, eight dogs). The d ogs were evaluated at 1, 2, 7, 14, 31, 90, and 180 days. Linea alba in cisions approximated with polypropylene suture material were significa ntly stronger than linea alba incisions approximated with stainless st eel fascial staples on day 0. There was no significant difference betw een breaking strength values, histologic, and morphometric appearance of linea alba incisions closed with stainless steel fascial staples or polypropylene suture material when compared 7, 14, and 31 days after surgery. All of the dogs in the clinical trial appeared to be normal a t all evaluation times. Approximation of linea alba incisions with sta inless steel fascial staples compares favorably to closure with a simp le continuous pattern of polypropylene suture material with regard to breaking strength, clinical, histologic, and morphometric appearance.