Overview
The investigators recruit patients admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Department of the Geneva's University Hospital with open wounds needing suture. The patients are treated with absorbable versus non-absorbable suture material according to randomization.
Outcomes are:
- infection rate at the first follow-up (between 4 and 14 days, depending on the sutured site and defined by protocol)
- scar appearance at a 6-months follow-up.
Description
The investigators recruit patients admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Department of the Geneva's University Hospital with open wounds needing suture. The patients are treated with absorbable versus non-absorbable suture material according to randomization.
After obtaining the patient's/parent's consent and randomization, the suture material will be provided.
Selection of the size of the thread and the date of the first follow-up are determined as
- follows
-
- Face: Thread size 5-0 to 7-0, first follow-up 4-7 days
- Torso/back: Thread size 4-0 or 5-0, first follow-up 10-14 days
- Arms: Thread size 4-0 or 5-0, first follow-up 7- 10 days
- Hand: Thread size 5-0 or 6-0, first follow-up 7-10 days
- Legs: Thread size 4-0 or 5-0, first follow-up 7-14 days
The patients are examined by in the outpatient wound clinic by specialised nurses under medical supervision at the first follow-up, and at six months by one of the investigators.
- Outcomes
-
- infection rate at the first follow-up (between 4 and 14 days, depending on the sutured site and defined by protocol)
- scar appearance at a 6-months follow-up.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patient younger than 16 years of age with a wound requiring suture
Exclusion Criteria:
- Deep wounds with lesions of subcutaneous structures (tendons, nerves, etc.)
- Wounds with tissue loss
- Diabetic patients or patients treated with drugs potentially compromising cicatrization (e.g. steroids, immunosuppressors, etc.)
- Wounds caused by animal or human bites
- Sutures not performed in the emergency room
- Heavily soiled wounds