Rhinoplasty Scar Comparison

Medical University of South Carolina60 enrolled

Overview

Traditional suture closure of the columellar scar in rhinoplasty is achieved with permanent skin sutures. These sutures create less inflammation and are thought to lead to improved final scar outcomes. However, permanent sutures require removal which creates pain and inconvenience for the patient. Some surgeons use fast absorbing sutures that do not require removal. The difference in final scar outcome based on suture material used has not been well studied. This study will examine the final scar outcomes of rhinoplasty incisions sutured with traditional permanent suture compared to fast absorbing suture. If scar outcomes are similar between these groups as judged by the patients and blinded observers, rhinoplasty surgeons may be able to preferentially utilize absorbable sutures for incision closure and avoid the pain and inconvenience for the patient during suture removal

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Conditions

Surgical Incision Nose Deformity

Interventions

Closure with Permanent Suture

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 99 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria •Adult (age ≥ 18 years) patients undergoing primary open rhinoplasty surgery for any reason with any of the study surgeons. Exclusion Criteria * Patients undergoing rhinoplasty for cleft nasal deformity or nasal reconstruction related to cancer resection * Patients with previous surgery that involved a columellar incision. Patients with history of previous nasal surgery that did not involve an incision on the columella may be included * Patients with known history of cutaneous disorder that affects scaring such as personal history of keloid formation, collagen vascular disease, or previous radiation to the surgical site * Inability or unwillingness of subject to give informed consent

Locations (2)

Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Ralph Johnson VA Medical Center

Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Patient Scar Assessment

Patient scar assessment will be done with a patient completed questionnaire. The questionnaire is a validated scar assessment instrument for self rating of surgical scars by patients for a minimum rating of 28 (best scar) to 112 (worst scar)

Time frame: 12 months after surgery

Clinician Scar Assessment

Clinician scar assessment will be done using photographs of the scar 12 months after surgery. Clinicians will use a validated clinician scar grading tool for evaluation of surgical scars with a range of 0 (worst scar) to 5 (best scar)

Time frame: 12 months after surgery