title: Emergency department repair of hand lacerations using absorbable vicryl sutures.
abstract: The use of absorbable suture material has a number of potential advantages when compared to nonabsorbable suture. We conducted a 5-year retrospective study of 102 patients with hand lacerations and compared the quality of scar formation and healing in these patients. Those patients who did not have tendon, nerve, or bone injury were included in the study. Lacerations were repaired with either 5-0 Vicryl or nylon. There were no reported complications or infections in any study group patient. The quality of scar, when compared visually and by palpation, was the same at the end of 6 months. In addition, there was no difference in the incidence of scar retraction. We conclude that the use of absorbable suture material is an acceptable alternative in the repair of hand lacerations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, State University of New York, Brooklyn 11203, USA.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dicksheet
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Scalea
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011098:Polyglactin 910; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013537:Sutures; D014945:Wound Healing; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011098:Polyglactin 910