The investigators recruit patients admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Department of the Geneva's University Hospital with open wounds needing suture. The patients are treated with absorbable versus non-absorbable suture material according to randomization.~After obtaining the patient's/parent's consent and randomization, the suture material will be provided.~Selection of the size of the thread and the date of the first follow-up are determined as follows:~Face: Thread size 5-0 to 7-0, first follow-up 4-7 days~Torso/back: Thread size 4-0 or 5-0, first follow-up 10-14 days~Arms: Thread size 4-0 or 5-0, first follow-up 7- 10 days~Hand: Thread size 5-0 or 6-0, first follow-up 7-10 days~Legs: Thread size 4-0 or 5-0, first follow-up 7-14 days~The patients are examined by in the outpatient wound clinic by specialised nurses under medical supervision at the first follow-up, and at six months by one of the investigators.~Outcomes:~infection rate at the first follow-up (between 4 and 14 days, depending on the sutured site and defined by protocol)~scar appearance at a 6-months follow-up.
The investigators recruit patients admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Department of the Geneva's University Hospital with open wounds needing suture. The patients are treated with absorbable versus non-absorbable suture material according to randomization.~Outcomes are:~infection rate at the first follow-up (between 4 and 14 days, depending on the sutured site and defined by protocol)~scar appearance at a 6-months follow-up.