Packing Versus no Packing for Cutaneous Abscess

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The goal of this study is to examine patients undergoing incision and drainage of cutaneous abscesses to determine if routine packing of the abscess cavity affects the need for further interventions such as repeat incision and drainage, antibiotic administration or hospital admission.

Detailed Description
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Study protocol: Identification of a patient with a cutaneous abscess requiring incision and drainage Written consent obtained from the patient Study materials will be obtained Enrolling physician fills out pre-procedure information (see data sheet) Enrollment data sheet has instructions indicating whether patient is to receive packing or not Use of random number generator to randomize all packets Provider does abscess incision and drainage with or without packing according to the instructions Enrolling physician fills out post-procedure information (see data sheet) Patient returns within 48 hours for wound check with removal of packing if performed Research coordinator or study physician calls the patient within 14 and 30 days after the procedure for follow-up Information from a return visit and/or the telephone follow-up

Official Title
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Is Routine Packing of Cutaneous Abscesses Necessary?

Conditions
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Cutaneous Abscess

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: Packing
* Other: No packing


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: All patients 18 years of age and above Patients that require a cutaneous abscess incision and drainage English-speaking subjects only Exclusion Criteria: Unable to return for 48-hour follow-up. Patients being admitted to the hospital or going to the operating room for incision and drainage Pregnant patients Patients less than 18 years of age Prisoners or persons in police custody Patients with infected bursa Non-English speaking subjects

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Packing<br>The patient is to have a long piece of gauze within the abscess cavity in an attempt to keep it open and allow purulent material to continue to drain after the initial incision and release of purulent material has been performed. | Procedure: Packing<br>* The patient will receive packing as part of their wound care<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: No packing<br>The patient is not to have packing of the abscess as part of the incision and drainage procedure | Other: No packing<br>* The patient will not receive packing as part of their wound care<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Percentage of patients needing further treatment | follow-up call to determine if patient required further treatment beyond routine care | 14 days | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS pain) post procedure | Measure pain score after procedure | 14 days |