5-0 Prolene Versus 5-0 Fast Absorbing Gut

April 20, 2021 updated by: University of California, Davis

Use of 5-0 Prolene Versus 5-0 Fast Absorbing Gut During Cutaneous Wound Closure: a Randomized Evaluator Blinded Split Wound Comparative Effectiveness Trial

When using suture (stitches) to close wounds, surgeons can use suture that is absorbable or non-absorbable. Absorbable sutures naturally break down. Non-absorbable sutures need to be removed. We wish to determine how the cosmetic result of a specific absorbable suture (fast absorbing gut) compares to that of a specific non-absorbable suture (prolene).

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the use of 5-0 prolene during repair of linear cutaneous surgery wounds improves scar cosmesis compared to wound closure with 5-0 fast absorbing gut (both SOC). We will use a split wound model, where half of the wound is treated with 5-0 prolene and the other half is repaired with 5-0 fast absorbing gut. Three-months post-surgery, the scar will be measured via the physician observer scar assessment scale, a validated scar instrument (research procedure). The scar width and adverse events will be recorded.

There are many options when it comes to closing a linear cutaneous wound, and an important consideration is choosing between non-absorbable and absorbable sutures. The overall aesthetic superiority between the two is not well understood. Studies to date have typically compared prolene (non-absorbable) and vicryl (absorbable) sutures and found no significant difference in cosmesis.1-4 One study found an increased pain score at 10 days with vicryl, but not at 6 weeks,1 while others have found no difference in pain.2-4 Another study found an increased number of complications with vicryl sutures, including infections and suture granulomas.4 This supports past observations that absorbable sutures can cause more of an immune response and therefore inflammation, despite the benefit of providing more prolonged support to wound edges compared to non-absorbable sutures.1

There is a lack of data, though, comparing prolene to other absorbable sutures, such as fast absorbing gut. In the setting of blepharoplasty, a study found that a running stitch of fast absorbing gut with a simple interrupted stitch of prolene at each end of the incision yielded better cosmetic results and fewer complications than a running stitch or subcuticular stitch using prolene.5 More studies are therefore needed to compare the outcomes of linear closures using only prolene compared to only fast absorbing gut. Using only absorbable sutures has the potential benefit of decreasing healthcare costs by reducing the number of appointments needed for suture removals, and, if superior in terms of cosmesis, corrective procedures.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

50

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 18 years of age or older
  • Able to give informed consent themselves
  • Patient scheduled for cutaneous surgical procedure on the head and neck with predicted primary closure
  • Willing to return for follow up visit.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Mentally handicapped
  • Unable to understand written and oral English
  • Incarceration
  • Under 18 years of age
  • Pregnant Women
  • Wounds with predicted closure length less than 3 cm

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 5-0 Prolene
Half of the wound will be treated with 5-0 prolene
The interventions are two types of sutures: 5-0 Prolene, 5-0 Fast Absorbing Gut.
Experimental: 5-0 Fast Absorbing Gut
Half of the wound will be treated with 5-0 fast absorbing gut
The interventions are two types of sutures: 5-0 Prolene, 5-0 Fast Absorbing Gut.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Patient Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS)
Time Frame: within 3 months of the procedure
The primary endpoint will be the score of two blinded reviewers using the physician observer assessment score at a three-month assessment visit.
within 3 months of the procedure

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Width of the scar
Time Frame: within 3 months of the procedure
The secondary endpoint will include the width of the scar at the follow-up visit and any complications from the treatment.
within 3 months of the procedure

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Daniel Eisen, MD, University of California, Davis

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

October 13, 2015

Primary Completion (Actual)

March 15, 2016

Study Completion (Actual)

October 1, 2019

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 2, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 2, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

October 5, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 22, 2021

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 20, 2021

Last Verified

April 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 811023

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

Undecided

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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