title: Donor-site closure using absorbable dermal staple for deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flaps: its efficacy and cosmetic outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgeons tend to pay less attention to the donor site during breast reconstruction using deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flaps because attention is focused on microanastomosis and breast shaping. Therefore, donor site closure is typically performed by a secondary operator. We present consistently reduced operative times and improved scar quality using an absorbable dermal staple.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review was performed on 25 patients who were either standard suture controls (group I, n = 15) or received absorbable staples (group II, n = 10). Mean age, flap size, whole operative time, and length of hospital stay were collected. The donor site scar was evaluated by three plastic surgeons in a blinded manner using the modified Vancouver scar scale 6 months after surgery. Data were analyzed with the independent t test, and a p value ≤0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences were detected between the groups for age, harvested flap size, or length of hospitalization. However, operative time was significantly longer in group I (1.07 ± 0.24 min/cm(2)) than that in group II (0.86 ± 0.16 min/cm(2), p = 0.015). The total scar assessment score was significantly lower in group II (3.8 3 ± 1.30) than that in group I (5.27 ± 1.83, p = 0.043).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Absorbable dermal stapling reduced operative time, compared to that of traditional suturing. In addition, scar quality from absorbable dermal staples was superior to that resulting from traditional sutures.
  
  
  METHODS
  II.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 16591 Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Ho
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 16591 Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Yeon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 16591 Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon Jae
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 16591 Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Suk Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 16591 Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Deuk Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Oh
keywords: Absorbable dermal staples; Deep Inferior epigastric artery perforator flap; Donor site; Operation time; Scar