Purse-string versus conventional linear skin closure after loop-colostomy reversal: A prospective cohort study

Objective After a loop-colostomy reversal, this study aimed to compare the wound-infection rate and the operative outcomes between purse-string and linear skin closure. Patients and methods Patients who had loop-colostomy closure at Assiut University Hospital between January 2020 and April 2021 were studied using prospectively obtained data. In terms of wound infection, hospital stay, wound healing time, and ultimate scar length, the purse-string skin closure (n=30) and linear skin closure (n=30) were compared. Results There were no differences between the two groups in terms of age, sex, BMI, time between colostomy procedure and its reversal, operation time, or hospital stay. In the purse-string group, wound infection was discovered in 11 (36.7%) cases, while in the linear-closure group, it was found in 20 (66.7%) cases (P=0.03). The purse-string group's median postoperative time to full wound healing was 40 days (35-55 days), while that of the linear-closure group was 28 days (20-41 days) (P=0.001). The purse-string group had a wound scar length of 4.9 cm (4-6 cm) and the linear-closure group had a scar length of 8.5 cm (7.5-10 cm) (P=0.001). Conclusion Purse-string closure following loop-colostomy reversal is linked to a lower risk of wound infection and a smaller scar. However, it is linked to a longer healing duration for wounds.