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Comparison of Skin Staples and Standard Sutures for Closing Incisions After Head and Neck Cancer Surgery: A Double-Blind, Randomized and Prospective Study

  • Comparative Study
  • Published:
Journal of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the merits and demerits of stapled skin closure when compared to conventional sutures in head and neck cancer surgery.

Materials and Methods

A total of 80 patients (40 patients each in control and study group) were enrolled. The patients underwent closure of incision wounds following head and neck cancer surgical procedures. Skin incisions were closed with sutures using 3-0 silk in control group and with stainless steel staples in study group. Both the groups were compared for speed of closure, cost effectiveness, pain on removal, patient comfort, aesthetic outcome on day of removal, 15 and 30 days after day of removal and complications.

Results

The mean incision length in control group was 54 ± 16.3 cm while in study group was 53.7 ± 15.4 cm which was statistically not significant (P = 0.95). The mean time of closure in control group was 34.2 ± 12 min while in study group was 3.3 ± 1.2 min which was statistically highly significant (P < 0.001). The mean cost of material for skin closure in control group was Rs. 270.0 ± 46.4 and in study group was Rs. 517.5 ± 135.7 which was also statistically highly significant (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

It was concluded that skin staples are better alternatives to conventional sutures in head and neck cancer surgery as they offer ten times faster wound closure, cost effectiveness, and similar results to sutures in terms of patient comfort, aesthetic outcome and complication rate.

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Acknowledgments

Authors acknowledge help and guidance of Dr Kirti Kumar Rai, Professor and Head, Dept. of OMFS, BDC&H, Davangere for his help and critical evaluation throughout the study.

Conflict of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Postgraduate Institute of Dental Sciences, Pt. B.D Sharma U.H.S, Rohtak, Haryana, India

    Jitender Batra

  2. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Daswani Dental College, Kota, Rajasthan, India

    Rajesh Kumar Bekal

  3. Department of General Surgery, S.S Institute of Medical Sciences, Davangere, Karnataka, India

    Sunil Byadgi

  4. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Postgraduate Institute of Dental Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana, India

    Gyanander Attresh & Shanender Sambyal

  5. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, D.A.P.M.R.V Dental College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

    Chinmay Dilip Vakade

  6. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Bapuji Dental College and Hospital, Davangere, 577004, Karnataka, India

    Jitender Batra, Rajesh Kumar Bekal, Sunil Byadgi, Gyanander Attresh, Shanender Sambyal & Chinmay Dilip Vakade

  7. #85, New Model Town, Tohana, 125120, Haryana, India

    Jitender Batra

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  1. Jitender Batra
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Correspondence to Jitender Batra.

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Batra, J., Bekal, R.K., Byadgi, S. et al. Comparison of Skin Staples and Standard Sutures for Closing Incisions After Head and Neck Cancer Surgery: A Double-Blind, Randomized and Prospective Study. J. Maxillofac. Oral Surg. 15, 243–250 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12663-015-0809-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12663-015-0809-y

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