The international surgical journal with global reach

This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials comparing primary vs delayed primary skin closure in contaminated and dirty abdominal incisions. JAMA Surgery 2013; 148: 779-786.

Published: 10th January 2014

Authors: Bhangu A, Singh P, Lundy J, Bowley DM

Conclusion

There were eight studies that included 623 patients, mostly with complicated appendicitis (77.4 per cent). Delayed primary closure reduced the rate of surgical site infection (odds ratio 0.65, 95 per cent confidence interval 0.40 to 0.93, P=0.02), however, the studies were poor quality.

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