Clinical trial NCT03284983: Split Scar Study to Assess Cosmetic Outcome From Differing Suture Spacing
Official title: Split Scar Study to Assess Cosmetic Outcome From Differing Suture Spacing
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: UNKNOWN
Phase: NA
Conditions: Suture, Complication
Wound
Wound Complication
Wound Dehiscence
Wound of Skin
Surgery
Suture; Complications, Infection or Inflammation
Lead sponsor: Silver Falls Dermatology
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Samaritan Health Services
First posted: 2017-09-15
Enrollment: 30
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 30
Maximum age (years): 100
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: 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.


Eligibility criteria: 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.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in cosmetic outcome of 5 mm versus 10 mm suture spacing on wound healing
timeFrame: 6 months
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change in wound complications of 5 mm versus 10 mm suture spacing on wound healing
timeFrame: 2 weeks
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Salem
country: United States
facility: Silver Falls Dermatology
state: Oregon
Study officials:
affiliation: Silver Falls Dermatology
name: William Lear, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Dumville JC, Coulthard P, Worthington HV, Riley P, Patel N, Darcey J, Esposito M, van der Elst M, van Waes OJ. Tissue adhesives for closure of surgical incisions. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014 Nov 28;2014(11):CD004287. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004287.pub4.
citation: Bloemen MC, van Gerven MS, van der Wal MB, Verhaegen PD, Middelkoop E. An objective device for measuring surface roughness of skin and scars. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011 Apr;64(4):706-15. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2010.03.006. Epub 2011 Jan 8.
citation: Sagi HC, Papp S, Dipasquale T. The effect of suture pattern and tension on cutaneous blood flow as assessed by laser Doppler flowmetry in a pig model. J Orthop Trauma. 2008 Mar;22(3):171-5. doi: 10.1097/BOT.0b013e318169074c.
citation: Braverman IM, Keh A, Goldminz D. Correlation of laser Doppler wave patterns with underlying microvascular anatomy. J Invest Dermatol. 1990 Sep;95(3):283-6. doi: 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12484917.
citation: Shin TM, Bordeaux JS. How suture technique affects the cosmetic outcome of cutaneous repairs. J Drugs Dermatol. 2014 Aug;13(8):967-9.