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Randomized Clinical Trial of Skin Closure With Staples Versus Suture

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The Washington University

Status and phase

Completed
Phase 2

Conditions

Wound Complication
Wound Infection

Treatments

Device: Stainless steel staples
Device: 4-0 monofilament suture

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT01977612
201304058

Details and patient eligibility

About

Women with gynecologic cancers are often obese and have other risk factors for post-operative wound separation. Data from obstetrics and orthopedic surgery literature have shown a decreased risk of wound separation and complications when the skin is closed with suture as compared to staples. Skin closure with either staples or suture is considered standard of care. Traditionally, most wounds have been closed with staples given their ease of use and quick application. In this randomized study the investigators plan to evaluate and compare the complication rate associated with both standard closures.

Full description

The investigators propose a randomized controlled trial to evaluate for a difference in wound complication rate between closure with sutures that are placed just below the skin level to hold the skin together and metal staples in obese women (BMI>=30) undergoing gynecologic or gynecologic oncology via a midline skin incision for benign or cancer indications under the supervision of one of the full-time faculty members of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Washington University School of Medicine.

Enrollment

173 patients

Sex

Female

Ages

18 to 85 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

  • All women, >=18 and <= 85 years of age, undergoing surgery, via a midline laparotomy.
  • Body mass index >=30
  • Benign or oncologic indications for surgery.
  • Women of childbearing age will be required to have a negative human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) test within seven days of surgery.
  • Surgery will be supervised by one of the gynecologic oncology attendings at Washington University School of Medicine.
  • Ability to understand and willingness to sign an IRB approved written informed consent document.

Exclusion criteria

  • Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Pfannenstiel or transverse abdominal incision
  • Concomitant panniculectomy or plastic surgery
  • Women <18 years of age
  • History of prior abdominal or pelvic radiation
  • Inability to sign an informed consent form prior to registration on study
  • Inability to understand spoken or written English
  • Prisoner
  • Mental incapacity
  • A history of allergic reactions attributed to either Monocryl suture or stainless steel staples.

Trial design

Primary purpose

Treatment

Allocation

Randomized

Interventional model

Parallel Assignment

Masking

None (Open label)

173 participants in 2 patient groups

Stainless Steel Staples
Active Comparator group
Description:
Skin closure with stainless steel staples
Treatment:
Device: Stainless steel staples
4-0 monofilament Sutures
Experimental group
Description:
Skin closure with 4-0 monofilament sutures
Treatment:
Device: 4-0 monofilament suture

Trial contacts and locations

1

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Data sourced from clinicaltrials.gov

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