The Use of Barbed Sutures in Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review on Clinical-Surgical Outcomes, Costs, and Complications

Abstract

Purpose: Total hip arthroplasty is among the most successful procedures in orthopaedic surgery. As the total number of total hip arthroplasties is constantly rising and it is expected to further increase, efforts oriented to optimise surgical pathways are investigated, aiming to reduce complications and diminish costs. The wound suturing phase is one of the steps that may be addressed. Barbed sutures have proved to reduce surgical times and enhance suture stability, then reducing wound-related complications in many surgical fields. The evidence on the use of this technology in total hip arthroplasty is still sparse, and its effect on patient outcomes and costs must still be clarified.

Methods: A systematic search of studies published from 1 January 2000 to 1 March 2023 was performed. Two authors independently reviewed the literature available in eight electronic databases to identify papers eligible for inclusion.

Results: A total of nine studies investigating 6959 procedures on 6959 patients were included in the final analysis. Five studies were randomised controlled trials, and the overall quality of studies ranged from moderate to high. The mean age of patients ranged from 43.8 to 70 years. BMI ranged from 25 to 31.9 kg/m². The mean follow-up of studies ranged from 3 to 6 months.

Conclusions: Evidence included in the systematic review suggested that the use of barbed sutures is associated with lower suturing times, complication rates, and overall costs when compared to the use of traditional suturing techniques.

Level of evidence: II, systematic review of level I and II studies.

Keywords: THA; TJR; barbed sutures; barbed technology; hip replacement; total hip arthroplasty.

Figure 1

PRISMA flowchart for studies selection.