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Outcomes of Running Locking Suture vs Standard Running Suture in Surgical Wounds
Sponsor: University of California, Davis
Summary
When patients have surgery on the head and face, stitches are the standard way to close the wound. Wounds always result in a scar, but doctors are always looking for ways to reduce scarring. Several studies have been done to test ways to close wounds that reduce scarring. The most commonly performed closure technique uses running sutures, where a single strand of suture is continued along the length of the wound with a series of uninterrupted stiches. However, alternative closure techniques exist such as the running locking suture, which can offer advantages such as improved tension and thus reduce post-operative complications with better aesthetic outcome. In this study, half the wound will be stitched with standard running sutures and the other half will be stitched with running locking sutures. This will allow us to see if the side with running locking sutures heals with less scarring.
Official title: Outcomes of Running Locking Suture vs Standard Running Suture in Surgical Wounds: a Randomized Evaluator-blinded Split-wound Comparative Effectiveness Trial
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
50
Start Date
2024-08-01
Completion Date
2026-10-01
Last Updated
2025-12-05
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Running locking suture
In running locking sutures, the first anchoring knot is made at one end of the wound, and a loop of suture is left from the beginning of the throw. The needle is then passed through the loop of suture, locking the suture in place. This is repeated until reaching the end of the wound, where the suture material is then tied to the loop using an instrument tie for the final throw.
Standard running suture
In standard running sutures, the first anchoring knot is made at one end of the wound, and all of the suture material is pulled through after completing the throw. This is repeated until reaching the end of the wound, where the suture material is then tied.
Locations (1)
University of California, Davis - Dermatology Department
Sacramento, California, United States