Jenkins Rule

Jenkins rule is a well-known principle in abdominal wall closure emphasizing the importance of using sufficient suture length relative to wound length. The concept supports force distribution along the incision and helps avoid excessive localized tension that can impair perfusion or promote suture pull-through. In practice, it is often expressed as aiming for a suture length to wound length ratio around 4:1 during fascial closure. While the ratio alone does not guarantee good outcomes, it is commonly used as a practical indicator that stitch placement and spacing are consistent and adequate.

All glossary terms