Subcuticular suture, metal clips, and steri-strips for wound closure after thyroid surgery

Comparative study of subcuticular suture, metal clips, and steri-strips for wound closure after thyroid surgery
Jnaneshwari Jayaram, CM Aruna Kumar, Rhea Pinto, Leo F Tauro

Saudi Surgical Journal 2019 7(1):10-13

Background: Pain and scar are the two important criteria bothering the patients after thyroid surgeries. Incisions on the neck when heal has to be scarless or minimum scar. Hence, we opted to study for the better methods of skin closure to obtain less pain and less scar. Aim: The study compared subcuticular suture, metal clips, and steristrips for wound closure after thyroid surgery based on the postoperative pain assessment, neck mobility, and cosmetic appearance. Materials and Methods: The prospective study which includes a consecutive series of 93 (n = 93). Patients undergoing thyroidectomy who were randomized to have their wound's closed by subcuticular sutures or steristrips or staples. The randomization code was generated using a table of random numbers, and the sealed envelope was opened at the end of each operation. Results: In this study, wound closure by steristrips had less postoperative pain followed by subcuticular suture and metal clips. In our study, neck mobility after thyroid surgery, steristrips had acceptable neck mobility compared to subcuticular suture and metalclips. In our study, cosmetic appearance after thyroid surgery wound closure with steristrips had excellent scar appearance followed by subcuticular suture and metal clips. Conclusion: In the final analysis, the choice of wound closure materials will depend on the surgeon's preference. However, this study showed that steristrips had less pain, acceptable neck mobility, excellent scar appearance followed by thyroidectomy surgery.