Summary
In a trial of 20 patients with bilateral varicose veins, one limb was randomly allocated to wound closure with disposable metal staples while the wounds on the contralateral limb were closed with silk sutures. Each patient thus acted as his own control. Wound healing was assessed at two and five days for the presence of erythema, necrosis or infection and the cosmetic result was assessed at one month. The time taken for operative insertion and removal of sutures and staples was recorded. Postoperative pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale, while the sutures were in place and again at time of suture removal. The staples were quicker to insert but the wound healing, cosmetic results and pain of both methods was similar.
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Harvey, C.F., Logan, C.J.H. A prospective trial of skin staples and sutures in skin closure. I.J.M.S. 155, 194–196 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02939841
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02939841