I Iqbal M Ali, Muhammad Najmuddin Shabbir, Imtiaz Ahmed, Muhammad Shahzeb Najam.
Cosmetic effects of diff erent types of skin closure techniques after thyroidectomy on scar formation: metal clips versus subcuticular sutures.
Pak J Surg Jan ;30(1):27-9.

Objective: To evaluate the post operative cosmetic results of skin closure aft er thyroidectomy with metal clips vs. subcuticular prolene sutures. Study design: Prospective randomized trial. Sett ing and duration of study: It was conducted at Sarfraz Rafi qui Shaheed Hospital (SRS) and other hospitals of Karachi from January 2006 to December 2011. Methodology: 100 patients aft er thyroidectomy were subjected for this study which was focused on cosmetic outcome of the scar formation aft er closure using one of the two techniques that is metal clips versus subcuticular sutures. Two consultant surgeons were involved and they closed the wound randomly with one of the above mentioned two techniques without their choice. Th e time taken for the procedure to apply and to remove was noted. In the end, wounds were noted postoperatively at discharge, three months & six months postoperatively. Results: Our results show that both methods are equally good as far as the scar is concerned but the subcuticular method has some edge over metal clips. Conclusion: Our study concluded that subcuticular sutures are superior to metal clips because they are economical, easy to remove with good cosmetic results. Scar formation is approximately same in the long duration. But in short duration subcuticular sutures have an edge over the metal clips as far as the cosmetic eff ects are concerned.

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