Sutures for Treatment of Knee Arthroscopy

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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For a knee arthroscopy, two small incisions are made at the level of the joint line on each side of the patellar tendon. Closure of surgical incisions consists of using either nonabsorbable or absorbable sutures. Some surgeons prefer using nonabsorbable sutures due to it being easier to tie, these sutures are less likely to break prematurely, and that they elicit a minimal inflammatory response. On the other hand, some surgeons prefer using absorbable sutures due to the time savings of not having to remove the sutures at a later date and that these sutures decrease patient anxiety and discomfort. The purpose of this study is to prospectively investigate and compare patient's pain, swelling and cosmesis following knee arthroscopy surgery between patients who had their arthroscopy portals closed using resorbable sutures vs. patients who had their portals closed using nonabsorbable sutures.

Official Title
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Absorbable Versus Nonabsorbable Sutures for the Treatment of Knee Arthroscopy: A Prospective Comparison of Patient Outcomes and Satisfaction

Conditions
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Knee Arthroscopy, Suture

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: 3.0 monocryl suture
* Device: 3.0 nylon suture


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Patients ages 18 and older undergoing primary knee arthroscopy for diagnostic arthroscopy, removal of a loose body, chondroplasty, or a partial meniscectomy will be included in this analysis Exclusion Criteria: Patients undergoing revision knee arthroscopy as well as patients undergoing ACL reconstruction or meniscal repair surgery will be excluded from this analysis. Patients under the age of 18 will be excluded as well.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: would closure using absorbable sutures<br>patients randomized into the absorbable suture group will have their incisions closed with 3.0 monocryl sutures | Device: 3.0 monocryl suture<br>* incision will be closed with absorbable suture<br>|
| Active Comparator: would closure using non-absorbable sutures<br>Patients randomized into the nonabsorbable suture group will have their incisions closed with either a 3.0 nylon suture | Device: 3.0 nylon suture<br>* incision will be closed with non-absorbable suture<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Postoperative Pain Leveles | Pain levels will be recorded through the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) | 3 months | 
| Patient Satisfaction | Satisfaction will be measures with customized questions regarding the overall satisfaction of their incision (on a scale of 0 to 10), satisfaction of the suture removal process, complications and swelling | 3 months |