Abdominal incisions—vertical or transverse?

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Patients (209) were entered into a prospective, randomized trial to determine whether a vertical or transverse abdominal incision is the more satisfactory in producing sound wounds. Ninety-six patients were randomized between paramedian and transverse incisions, and followed up for at least 1 yr. No significant difference in the incidence of wound failure was shown between 46 paramedian and 50 transverse incisions. Those patients who were considered to require a vertical incision were randomized between median and paramedian incisions. No significant difference in wound failure rates between 39 median and 40 paramedian incisions was demonstrated. No advantage or disadvantage of a transverse over a vertical abdominal incision or of a paramedian over a median incision was shown in this study.