Comparison of Fast-Absorbing Sutures for Mohs Surgery

University of British Columbia

Status and phase: Unknown; Early Phase 1

Conditions: Cicatrix

Treatments: Procedure: Surgical wound closure with superficial absorbable sutures

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02334917

H14-02604

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study is being carried out to assess equivalence of scar outcome for two absorbable sutures used for wound closure on the face in dermatologic surgery: rapidly absorbable polyglactin 910 (VicrylRapide™) and fast-absorbing plain gut (5-0 fast). This is important because absorbable sutures are commonly used in Mohs surgery for epidermal closure, yet there is no evidence indicating if any of the sutures above allow for a better cosmetic outcome (less erythema, edema, and scarring).

Full description

Prospective randomized controlled split-scar observer-blinded study.

After dermatologic surgery on the face, surgeons have a choice between using non-absorbable or absorbable sutures for skin closure. A dermatologic surgeon favoring absorbable sutures for wound closure will consider many factors in material selection, including ease of manipulation, cost, and absorption time. However, there have been no randomized trials comparing the most important measure: aesthetic/cosmetic outcome.

Study endpoint/outcome: use three validated scar assessment tools.

Enrollment: 100 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients who are over 18 years and are having Mohs surgery on the face.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with surgical wounds less than 4cm in length
• Patients requiring full thickness skin grafts for reconstruction
• Patients who are unable to attend routine postoperative follow-up appointments
• Patients who are receiving radiation therapy after surgery.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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100 participants in 1 patient group

Absorbable suture closure

Experimental group

Description:

Patients will have half of their surgical wound closed using one kind of absorbable superficial sutures, and the other half with a different kind of absorbable superficial suture. Which half receives which suture will be randomly determined.

Treatment:

Procedure: Surgical wound closure with superficial absorbable sutures