THURSDAY, June 9 (HealthDay News) -- Buried sutures with adhesive strip closure may offer a cosmetically viable alternative to layered closure for repair of excision wounds of skin malignancy in cheeks, according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Alisha N. Plotner, M.D., from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and colleagues compared the cosmetic outcomes of cheek defects repaired with layered closure to buried sutures with adhesive strips, in 38 patients who underwent Mohs micrographic surgery or simple excision for cutaneous malignancy. The patients' cuts were treated on one half with layered closure and on the other half with buried sutures and adhesive strip closure. Patients were assessed at follow-up by a single blinded evaluator using a visual analog scale.
The investigators found that the visual analog scale ratings for scar contour, erythema, and overall cosmesis were similar for both layered closure and buried sutures with adhesive strip closure.
"Our study showed no advantage of superficial sutures over adhesive strips in scar contour, erythema, or overall cosmesis. Placement of adhesive strips may be a less expensive, time-saving alternative to superficial sutures, at least for cheek defects closed primarily," the authors write.
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