Randomised controlled trial of triclosan coated vs uncoated sutures in primary hip and knee arthroplasty

Table 3 Comparison of operative data between the two groups

		Trial group		P value
		Controls (n = 69)	Cases (n = 81)
Site	Hip	42	54	0.5
	Knee	27	27
Surgeon	Consultant	25	29	0.63
	Registrar	38	41
	Fellow	6	11
Anaesthetic	General	45	50	0.56
	Regional	17	26
	Both	3	2
Local anaesthetic	Yes	67	77	0.38
	No	1	4
Length of operation	mean (SD)	88.44 (23.84)	91.24 (26.5)	0.67
	mean (SD)	3.75 (0.87)	3.53 (0.81)	0.12
Number of sutures used	2	1	7	0.26
	3	23	29
	4	30	30
	5	6	8
	> 5	1	0
Prosthesis hip	Synergy – R3	37	48	0.30
	Trifit – Trinity	3	3
	Exeter	0	3
Knee	Triathalon	21	23	0.70
	Saiph knee	5	3
Wound closure (min)	mean (SD)	14.64 (5.51)	13.89 (5.13)	0.47
VAS score (mean, SD)	Day 1	6.47 (2.62)	6.20 (2.35)	0.34
	Day 3	4.75 (2.33)	4.18 (2.33)	0.15
	Day 5	4.67 (1.75)	2.92 (2.87)	0.18
Length of stay (d)	mean (SD)	6.13 (4.23)	6.23 (4.11)	0.95

VAS: Visual analogue scale.