Abstract
To study the effect of primary and delayed primary closure of skin incision on wound outcome in patients with non-traumatic ileal perforation, 68 patients of ileal perforation were studied in a prospective randomized clinical trial. Patients fulfilling inclusion criteria were divided into ileostomy and non-ileostomy groups, both of which were then randomized into two subgroups each depending on whether skin was closed primarily or in a delayed primary manner. Wound infection and dehiscence were the main outcome parameters studied. The data collected was analyzed using appropriate statistical tools taking significant p value at 5 %. Most patients were 21-30 years of age. Male:female ratio was 3.2:1. The overall incidence of wound infection was 63 %. Wound infection was strongly associated with the incidence of superficial wound dehiscence and total wound dehiscence that were 11.76 and 47 %, respectively. Mortality was 10.3 %. Methodology of wound closure has no significant impact on incidence of wound infection, wound dehiscence, and mortality, although the onset of wound complications is significantly delayed with delayed primary closure of the skin.