Abstract: Wound Dehiscence (Acute Wound Failure or Burst Abdomen) is one of the dreaded complications of abdominal surgery. The incidence of wound dehiscence is higher in contaminated and dirty abdominal wounds. Retention sutures have often been employed in the treatment of acute burst abdomen, but their role as a prophylaxis of acute wound failure is controversial. The main aim of the study was to explore the prophylactic role of retention sutures in contaminated and dirty abdominal wounds in patients without additional risk factors. Of the 97 patients selected, 31 patients had prophylactic retention sutures.