title: Aesthetic comparison between synthetic glue and subcuticular sutures in thyroid and parathyroid surgery: a single-blinded randomised clinical trial.
abstract: The aim of our study was to compare, in terms of aesthetic results, the use of synthetic glue to intradermal absorbable sutures in postthyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy wound closure in a single blinded, randomised, per protocol equivalence study. From September 2008 to May 2010, patients undergoing thyroid or parathyroid surgery (with an external approach) at the Otolaryngology Department of the University Hospital of Modena were assessed for eligibility. In total, 42 patients who had had synthetic glue application on surgical incisions (A) and 47 patients who had subcuticular sutures on their surgical incisions (B) were enrolled. The mean of the endpoint (based on the Wound Registry Scale) of group A at 10 days was 1.4, while that in group B (based on the Stony Brook Scar Evaluation Scale) was 2.9. Statistically significant (p = 0.002) and clinically significant (difference of the means = 1.5) differences in the aesthetic results were found between groups A and B at 10 days, with better results in group B. On the other hand, at 3 months, the mean of the endpoint in group A was 3.1 while that in group B was 2.8; no statistically significant (p = 0.62) or clinically significant (difference in means = 0.3) differences were found between groups A and B. In conclusion, synthetic glue differs from subcuticular suture in post-thyroidectomy or post-parathyroidectomy incision for early aesthetic results, with better outcomes for subcuticular sutures. At 3 months, there were no differences in aesthetic outcomes between groups. Moreover, sex, incision length, age, cold/hot blade and correspondence of the incision with a wrinkle in the skin did not seem to influence aesthetic outcomes with this type of incision.
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology Department, University Hospital of Modena, Italy;
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alicandri-Ciufelli
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology Department, University Hospital of Modena, Italy;
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piccinini
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology Department, University Hospital of Modena, Italy;
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grammatica
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology Department, University Hospital of Modena, Italy;
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Molteni
authors.affiliation: Plastic Surgery Department, University Hospital of Modena, Italy;
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spaggiari
authors.affiliation: Medistat SAS, Milan, Italy;
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: DI Matteo
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology Department, University Hospital of Modena, Italy;
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tassi
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology Department, University Hospital of Modena, Italy;
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghidini
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy;
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Izzo
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology Department, University Hospital of Modena, Italy;
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Gioacchini
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology Department, University Hospital of Modena, Italy;
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marchioni
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency, Emergency Surgery and Trauma Surgery Unit, Maggiore Hospital, Bologna Local Health District, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: DI Saverio
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology Department, University Hospital of Modena, Italy;
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Presutti
mesh_terms: D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016105:Parathyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013537:Sutures; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D014014:Tissue Adhesives
chemical_list: D014014:Tissue Adhesives
keywords: Aesthetic outcomes; Intradermal absorbable sutures; Neck surgery; Parathyroid surgery; Subcuticular sutures; Synthetic glue; Thyroid surgery