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

September 12, 2017 updated by: Silver Falls Dermatology
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.

Study Overview

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

30

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

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

28 years to 98 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

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.

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: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 10 mm suture spacing
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
The wound was divided in half and sutures were spaced 5mm or 10mm apart depending on side. The sutures were removed at 2-week follow-up appointment and photographs were taken. The Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) was then performed by both patient and physician.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in cosmetic outcome of 5 mm versus 10 mm suture spacing on wound healing
Time Frame: 6 months
The wound was divided in half by placing a single 4-0 Polysorb suture in the midpoint of the wound based on ruler measurement. Simple interrupted nylon sutures were spaced approximately 5mm or 10mm apart depending on side. The sutures were then removed at 2-week follow-up appointment. The Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) was then performed by both patient and physician. The observer scale consists of six items (vascularity, pigmentation, thickness, relief, pliability and surface area), and all items were scored on a scale from 1 ('like normal skin') to 10 ('worst scar imaginable'). The patient scale also includes six items (color, itch, pain, thickness, stiffness, and irregularity) and all items were scored on a similar scale from 1 ('like normal skin') to 10 ('worst scar imaginable').
6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in wound complications of 5 mm versus 10 mm suture spacing on wound healing
Time Frame: 2 weeks
Wounds were also assessed for complications. Difficulty removing sutures was assessed by presence of either one of the following: unable to directly visualize suture knot or need to probe into wound to remove suture. Wound dehiscence was defined as at least a 1mm separation of the wound edge for at least 50% of the length of the wound closure. Edge necrosis was defined as eschar and necrosis of the wound edge for at least 50% of the wound closure. Infection was defined as any wound that had redness, pain and exudate.
2 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: William Lear, MD, Silver Falls Dermatology

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)

July 1, 2017

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

October 1, 2017

Study Completion (Anticipated)

October 1, 2017

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 11, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 12, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

September 15, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 15, 2017

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 12, 2017

Last Verified

September 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • IRB16-051

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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