Use of Quilting Sutures During Abdominoplasty to Prevent Seroma Formation: Are They Really Effective?

[BACKGROUND] Abdominoplasty surgery is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures performed in plastic surgery. As with any surgical procedure, it is associated with risks and complications, primarily that of seroma formation. Quilting sutures are a recent development in abdominoplasty surgery that aim to prevent the incidence of seroma.

[OBJECTIVES] The aim of this article was to assess the effectiveness of quilting suturing in the prevention of seroma formation.

[METHODS] In our retrospective clinical study, 414 female patients underwent abdominoplasty surgery with liposculpture contouring. The patients were divided in to three groups. The first group, comprising of 100 patients, were fitted with two drains postoperatively and no quilting sutures. The second group of 226 patients underwent quilting suturing in addition to receiving two drains. And the final group of 88 patients also underwent quilting suturing, but received only one drain. Post-operative seroma diagnosis was confirmed with the presence of clinical signs and symptoms.

[RESULTS] The data was analysed using Fisher's exact test. With P < .000, we rejected our null hypothesis that there is no difference in results between the procedure with sutures and that without sutures. We calculated that the probability of having seroma with sutures to be <0.02. In contrast, abstinence from quilting sutures resulted in a 12% risk of seroma formation.

[CONCLUSIONS] The use of quilting sutures is a significantly effective measure for the prevention of seroma formation.

[LEVEL OF EVIDENCE] 4 Therapeutic.