Interrupted 'Figure-of-X' Versus Continuous Suturing Technique for Abdominal Wall Closure in Colorectal Laparotomies

This prospective randomized comparative study aims to evaluate whether interrupted figure-of-X fascial closure reduces the incidence of burst abdomen compared with continuous suturing in patients undergoing open colorectal laparotomy. Burst abdomen is a serious postoperative complication associated with increased morbidity, prolonged hospital stay, and reoperation. A total of 40 adult patients undergoing elective or emergency colorectal laparotomy will be randomized into two groups: interrupted figure-of-X closure or continuous fascial closure. The primary outcome will be the incidence of burst abdomen within 30 days after surgery. Secondary outcomes will include surgical site infection, seroma, hematoma, and length of hospital stay. The study is being conducted at the Department of General Surgery, Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan.

NCT Number	NCT07585344
Lead Sponsor	Islamabad Medical and Dental College
Conditions	Colorectal Cancer
Enrollment	40 participants
Start Date	2025-11-07
Primary Completion	2026-04-05 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-05-15 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-05-26