RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT05758168

Aesthetic Outcome of Tie-over Bolster Application in Surgical Wounds

Aesthetic Outcome of Tie-over Bolster Application in Surgical Wounds: a Randomized Evaluator-blinded Split-wound Comparative Effectiveness Trial.

Sponsor

University of California, Davis

Enrollment

60 participants

Start Date

Oct 10, 2023

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

scarring

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. One idea is to reduce the tension around the cut. One way to reduce tension is to stitch a small piece of a special gauze over the top of the regular stitches. This procedure is called a "tie-over bolster dressing." As the name implies, this extra dressing "bolsters" the wound closure so that the skin on each side of the cut stays in place. The bolster dressing procedure has been used in the past in special cases, such as when skin grafts are necessary. The bolster dressing helps the skin graft heal by making sure the graft stays exactly in place. Keeping the wound stable with a bolster dressing also reduces bleeding under the wound. For non-grafted wounds, the bolster dressing procedure has not normally been used, and has not been well-studied. In this study the whole wound will be stitched normally and then the bolster dressing will be applied over half of the wound. This will allow us to see if the side with the bolster dressing heals with less scarring.

Eligibility

Min Age: 18 Years

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

This study is looking at whether a technique called a "tie-over bolster" dressing improves the cosmetic appearance of surgical wounds on the head and neck. After skin surgery — for example, removing a mole, cyst, or skin cancer — surgeons close the wound with stitches. A tie-over bolster is a special type of dressing that applies gentle, even pressure over the wound while it heals. The researchers want to know if this approach leads to better-looking scars compared to standard wound dressings. To be eligible, you must be at least 18 years old, scheduled for a skin surgery on the head or neck where the wound will be closed with stitches (primary closure), willing and able to sign a consent form, and able to return for a follow-up visit. People who are pregnant, incarcerated, under 18, unable to understand written and spoken English, or having a wound smaller than 3 cm are not eligible. If you join, your wound will be dressed using one of the study methods after your planned surgery, and a follow-up visit will be used to assess how the scar has healed. Scars on the face and neck are particularly visible and can affect people's confidence, so finding the best wound care technique for these areas is genuinely meaningful and can improve quality of life for thousands of people undergoing skin procedures every year.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

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