The study compares two widely used treatments in closing the wound after open carpal tunnel release surgery: absorbable and non-absorbable sutures. It is conducted as a randomized controlled trial, where the participants are divided into two research groups. The visual outcome of the scar will be evaluated a year after the surgery.
Absorbable sutures are more cost efficient and eliminate the need for suture removal both reducing costs and abolishing suture removal pain. We will study the difference in the visual outcome between the two groups. Based on former study the primary hypothesis is that there is no difference between the groups. The patients will evaluate their scars on a VAS-scale one year after the surgery. Secondarily we will focus on pain caused by the two sutures and take the suture removal pain into consideration. We expect therefore the non-absorbable suture to cause more pain in total. The evaluation will happen 2 weeks after the surgery by the patients.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
116
Patients undergoing median nerve release surgery will get their surgical wound closed with an absorbable suture according to their respective study group.
Patients undergoing median nerve release surgery will get their surgical wound closed with a non-absorbable suture according to their respective study group.
Kuopio University Hospital, Department of Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Hand Surgery
Kuopio, Northern Savonia, Finland
Visual outcome (VAS) of the scar (nice and ugly) as evaluated by the patient
The subjective aesthetics of the scar evaluated by the patient on a 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS) ranging from "the ugliest scar possible" to "the most beautiful scar possible". The proportion of ugly and nice scars will be reported. Outcome will be collected at one year time point.
Time frame: 1 year
Visual outcome (VAS) of the scar (nice and ugly) as evaluated by an outcomes assessor
The subjective aesthetics of the scar evaluated by an outcome assessor on a 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS) ranging from "the ugliest scar possible" to "the most beautiful scar possible". The proportion of ugly and nice scars will be reported. Outcome will be collected at one year time point.
Time frame: 1 year
Pain (VAS) experienced by the patient from the sutures
The rate of any the pain in the area of the scar including pain related to possible suture removal evaluated by the patient on a 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS) ranging from "no pain at all" to "worst pain imaginable". Propotions of patients in ten groups from 0 to 10 will be reported. Outcome will be collected at two weeks time point.
Time frame: 2 weeks
The Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire
A disease-specific measure of self-reported symptom severity and functional status measuring the effectiveness of the treatment. Outcome will be collected preoperatively and at one year time point.
Time frame: 1 year
The Net Promoter Score
Client experience, the likelihood of the patient to recommend the operation to a friend or a colleague
Time frame: 1 year
Costs
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The mean difference between the two study arms in treatment costs.The required data will be analysed from the trial data and Finnish healthcare registries.
Time frame: 1 year
Adverse events
Adverse events will be monitored throughout the trial, and patients will be instructed to promptly report any potential serious adverse events. At the one-year follow-up point, the questionnaires will include an inquiry about whether the patient has experienced any adverse events.
Time frame: 1 year