Comparison of Scar Results and Time for Closures of Scalp Defects Via Pulley Sutures or Layered Repairs
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Cosmetic |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Dermatology / Plastic Surgery |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - Any |
| Updated: | 4/21/2016 |
| Start Date: | November 2013 |
| End Date: | May 2015 |
A Prospective, Randomized Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Pulley Closures Compared to Intermediate or Complex Closures for Reconstruction of Scalp Surgical Defects
Surgical defects on the scalp require closure via various techniques of suture placement. A
traditional technique requires both dermal (deep) and epidermal (superficial) placement of
sutures to close the defect; this is referred to as intermediate or complex linear repair.
However, the scalp is a location with high tension, and thus the closures take an hour or
longer to perform. A type of suture placement referred to as the "pulley stitch" requires
placement of a few stitches along the defect. The pulley stitch can be used in areas of high
tension to close a large defect. The purpose of this study is to compare the scar results
and time taken to perform scalp closures via only pulley stitches or via
intermediate/complex linear repairs.
To my knowledge, no such study has been performed to compare the two techniques. Such a
study would be useful in demonstrating comparable scar appearance and reduce the time to
perform scalp closures.
traditional technique requires both dermal (deep) and epidermal (superficial) placement of
sutures to close the defect; this is referred to as intermediate or complex linear repair.
However, the scalp is a location with high tension, and thus the closures take an hour or
longer to perform. A type of suture placement referred to as the "pulley stitch" requires
placement of a few stitches along the defect. The pulley stitch can be used in areas of high
tension to close a large defect. The purpose of this study is to compare the scar results
and time taken to perform scalp closures via only pulley stitches or via
intermediate/complex linear repairs.
To my knowledge, no such study has been performed to compare the two techniques. Such a
study would be useful in demonstrating comparable scar appearance and reduce the time to
perform scalp closures.
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Age greater than 18 years
2. Ability to understand risks, benefits, and alternatives to the study and to be able
to give an informed consent
3. Lesions such as skin cancer or benign lesions on the scalp amenable to surgical
excision or to MOHS surgical technique
4. Frontal scalp defects defined as frontal hair line to crown of scalp
5. Scalp defect size of 2cm - 8 cm
Exclusion criteria:
1. Patients who tend to form keloids or hypertrophic scars
2. Patients with a history of scleroderma or morphea
3. Pregnant or breast-feeding females
4. Patients whose surgical defects require flap closures
We found this trial at
1
site
Click here to add this to my saved trials
