Split Scar Study to Assess Cosmetic Outcome From Differing Suture Spacing (SFD)

Silver Falls Dermatology

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Wound; Wound Dehiscence; Surgery; Wound of Skin; Wound Complication; Suture, Complication; Suture; Complications, Infection or Inflammation

Treatments: Other: Suture spacing for wound closure

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03284983

IRB16-051

Details and patient eligibility

About

The investigators wish to determine how suture spacing (5 mm vs. 10 mm) affects cosmetic outcome and development of "train tracking" in wounds. Linear wounds with sutures spaced closer together may not be as cosmetically appealing when compared to those that have larger spacing between sutures. Suturing closer together constricts blood flow and increases tension that ultimately results in more tissue necrosis and a less appealing outcome. The investigators also aim to conclude if 5 mm or 10 mm suture spacing results in less complications.

Enrollment: 30 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 30 to 100 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Male and female patients, at least 18 years of age, undergoing surgical excision of biopsy-proven skin cancers on the trunk or extremities at Silver Falls Dermatology & Allergy outpatient clinic in Salem, Oregon. Patients with elliptical excisions with length greater than 4.0 centimeters were included.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with prior scars within 2.5cm of the proposed elliptical excision, failure to comply with wound care instructions or failure to follow up.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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30 participants in 1 patient group

10 mm suture spacing

Experimental group

Description:

The investigators aim to determine how suture spacing affects cosmetic outcome of wound healing. One side (1/2 of the wound length) was sutured with 10 mm suture spacing

Treatment:

Other: Suture spacing for wound closure