Closure of skin incision after thyroidectomy through a supraclavicular approach: a comparison between tissue adhesive and staples.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness and cosmetic results of tissue adhesive or surgical staples in thyroidectomy through a supraclavicular incision.


METHODS
This was a prospective, randomized study of consecutive patients undergoing thyroidectomy by a supraclavicular approach. Eligible patients were randomized into two groups: one group had the incision closed with tissue adhesive (the experimental group) and the other with surgical staples (the control group). The main outcomes included operative time, early postoperative pain measured by Visual Analog Scale, incidence of wound dehiscence and infection, perceived cosmetic outcome, and overall patient satisfaction by using Patient Satisfaction Assessment Form.


RESULTS
There were 151 consecutive patients assessed for eligibility, and 132 patients were enrolled over 22 months. The clinical characteristics of the patients in the two groups were similar. Main outcomes were assessed in the first 24 h postoperatively, the first month, and the third month postoperatively. Operation time was longer in the experimental group (P = 0.027). Mean Visual Analog Scale scores for pain were lower in the experimental group in the early postoperative period (P < 0.001). No patients developed surgical site infections or wound dehiscence. Lower scores for scar assessment and higher overall satisfaction levels at the first month after surgery were found in the experimental group compared to the control group (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the two groups at the third month postoperatively in perceived cosmetic result (P = 0.052) or overall satisfaction (P = 0.059).


CONCLUSIONS
Tissue adhesive is effective and reliable in skin closure for thyroid surgery. While this closure may take somewhat longer to perform, it leads to less postoperative pain, more acceptable wound cosmesis, and higher patient satisfaction levels in short postoperative follow-up.
Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Y-L
YL
Yang
Y-Y
YY
Xiang
L-P
LP
Jin
Y-F
YF
Pan
S-M
SM
Zhou
X-H
XH
Zhang
J-M
JM
Qu
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061646:Operative Time; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017792:Surgical Stapling; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013537:Sutures; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D014014:Tissue Adhesives; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D058106:Wound Closure Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*
D014014:Tissue Adhesives
Thyroidectomy; surgical closure; surgical incision; tissue adhesive