Is Continuous Locking Suture with Braided Suture Sufficient for Arthrotomy Repair in the Conventional TKR? A Randomized Controlled Trial Study

Abstract Introduction Medial-parapatellar-arthrotomy is the standard approach for total knee replacement(TKR). No studies have clarified the outcomes as quadriceps-strength-recovery (QS) and safety of Continuous-locking-suture-technique(CLS) for the arthrotomy-repair. Methods Patients were randomly assigned into a CLS(n = 40) and an interrupted-horizontal-mattress(IHM) (n = 40). QS, visual-analog-scale(VAS), modified-timed-up-and-go(TUGT) test, Western-Ontario-and McMasters-Universities-Osteoarthritis-Index[WOMAC] and Knee-Society-Score[KSS] were followed for 6 months’. Results A significantly-shorter capsular-closure-time in CLS(233 ± 40 VS 388 ± 47 s)(p   0.05 all). No wound complications were found. Conclusion CLS with braided-suture is safe and effective as demonstrated a recovery of the QS and knee function outcome comparable to IHM. Trial registration ; This study was registered in Thai Clinical Trials Registry on December 2015 ( https://www.clinicaltrials.in.th ). The registration number was TCTR20151208003.