We know horses and barbed wire don’t mesh well. But how about barbed sutures? Italian researchers have recently discovered that this special kind of stitching could be key to correcting one common form of recurrent colic.

Nephrosplenic entrapment occurs when the large colon migrates between the spleen and the abdominal wall and becomes trapped over the nephrosplenic ligament (which attaches the spleen to the left kidney). Veterinarians can try to prevent this recurring problem by closing that nephrosplenic space surgically. They can use stitches, or even a mesh, to cause fibrosis (scarring), which fills the space with tissue so the large colon can’t move into that area anymore.

To close the space correctly, surgeons using normal sutures must tie knots at regular intervals, which can be complicated and time-consuming. Barbed sutures, however, eliminate the need for knot-tying, making the procedure more efficient, said Marco Gandini, DVM, PhD, of the University of Turin Department of Veterinary Sciences, in Grugliasco, Italy.

“Another benefit is that, as has been demonstrated in other studies (involving other kinds of surgeries), barbed sutures distribute the tension on the suture line more evenly,” he said. “This could be beneficial because it can prevent the accumulation of tension at certain points, which could otherwise cause tearing of the splenic or renal capsula,” a tough fibrous layer surrounding the spleen or kidney, respectively