Research Mentor Name

John Cramer, MD

Research Mentor Email Address

jdcramer@med.wayne.edu

Institution / Department

Wayne State University, Department of Otolaryngology

Document Type

Research Abstract

Research Type

clinicalresearch

Graduate Level Research

no

Abstract

Background The optimal skin-closure technique in head and neck surgery is uncertain, with sutures, staples, and tissue adhesive (glue) all in common use.

Objective To compare time to skin closure, postoperative scar appearance, overall surgical time, and cost across sutures, staples, and glue in head and neck surgery.

Methods We systematically screened 549 records in Covidence and included prospective randomized controlled trials comparing sutures vs staples, staples vs glue, or glue vs sutures. Eight trials met eligibility; six were pooled and two summarized narratively. A random-effects network meta-analysis (MetaInsight) evaluated two primary outcomes: time to skin closure and scar score (appearance/quality).

Results Staples were the fastest method for skin closure, with a statistically significant reduction in closure time versus sutures. Glue ranked second for speed but did not differ significantly from staples or sutures. Sutures were slowest. For scar scores, no statistically significant differences were detected among the three methods for either the 4-6 week or the 3 month timepoints. No statistically significant differences were detected in total surgical time or cost.

Conclusions In head and neck surgery, staples achieve the quickest skin closure without detectable compromise in aesthetic outcomes compared with sutures or glue, or significant difference in cost. Given the limited number of trials, additional well-powered randomized studies are needed to confirm these findings and assess context-specific modifiers (e.g., incision site, wound tension, adjuvant therapy).

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

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