USE OF ABDOMINAL BINDERS AFTER ELECTIVE MIDLINE LAPAROTOMY: A RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL

Abstract

Background: Postoperative pain and wound dehiscence are common complications following elective midline laparotomy. The use of abdominal binders has been suggested to improve recovery, but evidence remains inconclusive, particularly in South Asian populations. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of postoperative abdominal binders in reducing pain and wound dehiscence following elective midline laparotomy. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 100 patients undergoing elective midline laparotomy, allocated into two groups: binder group (n=50) and non-binder group (n=50). Baseline characteristics including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, and type of procedure were recorded. Postoperative pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) on day 7, and wound dehiscence was evaluated clinically at 1 week. Statistical analysis was performed using independent t-test and chi-square test, with p < 0.05 considered significant. Results: Baseline demographic and clinical variables were comparable between groups (p>0.05). On day 7, the binder group had significantly lower mean pain scores compared to the non-binder group (3.2 ± 1.1 vs. 4.0 ± 1.3, p=0.01). Wound dehiscence occurred in 3 patients (6%) in the binder group and 7 patients (14%) in the non-binder group; however, this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.18). Conclusion: The application of abdominal binders following elective midline laparotomy significantly reduces postoperative pain and may lower the incidence of wound dehiscence, although the latter was not statistically significant in this study. Larger trials with longer follow-up are warranted to further evaluate their role in improving surgical outcomes.