Comparison of Cosmetic Outcomes of Straight Line and W-plasty Techniques for Linear Wound Closure

Surgery Clinical Trial

Official title: Comparison of Cosmetic Outcomes of Straight Line and W-plasty Techniques for Linear Wound Closure: a Randomized Evaluator Blinded Split Wound Comparative Effectiveness Trial

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to compare the cosmetic outcome of traditional straight-line (SL) linear closure to that of W plasty (a type of geometric broken-line cutaneous closure technique) for closure of post-auricular wounds resulting from harvest of full thickness skin grafts during Mohs micrographic surgery. The research team will use a split wound model, where half of the wound is repaired with a straight-line cutaneous closure and the other half is repaired with the W-plasty technique. Three-months post-surgery, the scar will be measured via the patient observer scar assessment scale (POSAS), a validated scar instrument. The scar width, and adverse events will also be recorded.

Clinical Trial Description

Optimizing the cosmetic appearance of surgical scars is an important element of cutaneous surgery, especially for procedures performed on conspicuous areas of the body such as the head and face. Multiple factors have been shown to affect the aesthetic outcome of scars resulting from cutaneous surgery including the amount of tension on the resultant surgical wound, suture technique and type of sutures used. The use of various wound closure techniques including linear straight-line (SL) and geometric broken-line closure techniques (Z-plasty, W-plasty) to achieve a superior cosmetic scar outcome, has been debated in the dermatology and plastic surgery literature with few studies comparing SL and broken-line closure techniques and mixed results as to which modality provides a superior cosmetic outcome [2]. A study of forehead donor site closure in in 31 undergoing a paramedian forehead flap procedure showed that W-plasty provided a superior cosmetic outcome over straight-line closure, however another study in 30 patients undergoing tempo-parietal facial flaps found that W-plasty resulted in an inferior cosmetic outcome compared to linear closure. In addition, a large national survey of over 800 lay public participants found that linear scars were perceived as more cosmetically favorable than zig-zag scars in three facial locations (temple, cheek and forehead). Currently, there are no studies comparing the two closure techniques in a split-scar design, which can ameliorate many potentially confounding individual patient factors that could affect scar outcome.

Full-thickness skin grafts (FTSGs) are a commonly utilized reconstructive option in cutaneous surgery, and are typically harvested from behind the ear (postauricular) to close surgical defects on the head and face following surgical removal of both benign and malignant cutaneous tumors. This study aims to investigate whether the choice of straight-line linear closure versus a zig-zag broken line cutaneous closure technique (W-plasty) affects the cosmetic outcome of postauricular scars resulting from donor site closure following FTSG harvest. Additionally, skin lesions removed behind the ear present another opportunity to compare outcomes of these two techniques in an inconspicuous location. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Cosmetic Outcome
• Surgery

• NCT number: NCT05074199
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: University of California, Davis
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: February 26, 2018
• Completion date: September 1, 2021