Outcomes of Running Locking Suture vs Standard Running Suture in Surgical Wounds
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. The most commonly performed closure technique uses running sutures, where a single strand of suture is continued along the length of the wound with a series of uninterrupted stiches. However, alternative closure techniques exist such as the running locking suture, which can offer advantages such as improved tension and thus reduce post-operative complications with better aesthetic outcome. In this study, half the wound will be stitched with standard running sutures and the other half will be stitched with running locking sutures. This will allow us to see if the side with running locking sutures heals with less scarring.
- EligibilityCriteria: Inclusion Criteria:  18 years of age or older Able to give informed consent themselves Patient scheduled for cutaneous surgical procedure on the head or neck with predicted primary closure Willing to return for follow up visit  Exclusion Criteria:  Incarceration Under 18 years of age Pregnant Women Unable to understand written and oral English Wounds with predicted closure length less than 3cm - HealthyVolunteers: No - Gender: All - MinimumAge: 18 Years - StdAgeList: Adult, Older Adult