The stretched scar: the benefit of prolonged dermal support.
A study of skin suture following elliptical excision of tattoos from the upper limb shows that when the dermis is supported by a subcuticular non-absorbable suture for 6 months there is (a) a highly significant and numerically considerable (37.5%) reduction of scar stretching over that following conventional interrupted skin suture and (b) a significant reduction of scar width (15.7%) when compared with the same material used as a subcuticular suture for 3 weeks. Subcuticular polyglycolic acid achieved no reduction in scar width at one year when compared with conventional interrupted sutures.
Elliot
D
D
North East Thames Regional Plastic Surgery Unit, St Andrew's Hospital, Billericay, Essex.
Mahaffey
P J
PJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology*; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009757:Nylons; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D011126:Polypropylenes; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013537:Sutures; D013653:Tattooing; D013997:Time Factors
D009757:Nylons; D011126:Polypropylenes; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid