Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Steri-Strips™ vs. intracuticular skin suture in endoscopic release of carpal tunnel: a retrospective study and review of the literature

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
European Journal of Plastic Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery (ECTR) is a procedure that gained wide popularity resulting in reduced scar length and faster recovery. Different studies focused on how the type of skin closure affected the quality and the appearance of the final scar in carpal surgery release. In this study, we investigated the efficiency of a well-established primary skin closure method using Steri-Strips that, to date, has never been described in ECTR.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed data of 47 consecutive patients who underwent unilateral endoscopic carpal tunnel release at our clinic. All patients underwent the same surgical procedure performed by two different surgeons that differed only in the final skin closure: one used only Steri-Strips (group A), while the other used continuous absorbable subcuticular 4/0 monofilament polyglytone 6211 sutures (group B). Data collected included photographs at 10 days and three months after surgery and the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain evaluation, while the measure for the scar evaluation was the Stony Brook Scar Evaluation Scale. We also performed the Wilcoxon rank test to assess if there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of pain and scar quality.

Results

A total of 47 patients were included in this study. According to skin closure technique performed, the patients were categorised into two groups, A and B. Group A comprised 26 patients in which only Steri-Strips were used for the final skin closure; group B included 21 patients in which the closure was performed through 4/0 polyglytone. Data obtained from the VAS and from the Stony Brook Scar Evaluation Scale showed no significant difference between the two groups (p > 0.05). Data obtained from the evaluation of the visual analogue scale showed no significant differences in the median scores and similar postoperative pain between the two groups for all the 7 days of data recorded (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

Skin closure with Steri-Strips is a safe, secure and cheap method that leads to excellent aesthetic results. It is both a first choice and a valid alternative to intradermal suture for wound closure after endoscopic carpal tunnel release.

Level of evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Chung KC, Walters MR, Greenfield MLVH, Chernew ME (1998) Endoscopic versus open carpal tunnel release: a cost-effectiveness analysis. Plast Reconstr Surg 102:1089–1099

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Vasiliadis HS, Xenakis TA, Mitsionis G, Paschos N, Georgoulis A (2010) Endoscopic versus open carpal tunnel release. Arthroscopy 26:26–33

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Kang HJ, Koh IH, Lee TJ, Choi YR (2013) Endoscopic carpal tunnel release is preferred over mini-open despite similar outcome: a randomized trial hand. Clin Orthop Relat Res 471:1548–1554

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Bæk Hansen T, Kirkeby L, Fisker H, Larsen K (2009) Randomised controlled study of two different techniques of skin suture in endoscopic release of carpal tunnel. Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg Hand Surg 43:335–338

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Pedersen VM, Struckmann JR, Kjaergard HK, Geerdsen JP, Hansen PE (1987) Late cosmetic results of wound closure, strips versus suture. Neth J Surg

  6. Katz KH, Desciak EB, Maloney ME (1999) The optimal application of surgical adhesive tape strips. Dermatol Surg 25:686–688

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Singer AJ, Arora B, Dagum A, Valentine S, Hollander JE (2007) Development and validation of a novel scar evaluation scale. Plast Reconstr Surg 120(7):1892–1897

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Vercelli S, Ferriero G, Santorio F et al (2009) How to assess postsurgical scars: a review of outcome measures. Disabil Rehabil 31(25):2055–2063

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Rothnie NG, Taylor GW (1963) Sutureless skin closure: a clinical trial. Br Med J 26:1027–1030

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. MacKenzie D (1973) The history of sutures. Med Hist 17:158–168

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Golden T (1960) Non-irritating, multipurpose surgical adhesive tape. Am J Surg 100:789–796

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Golden T, Levy AH, O’Connor WT (1962) Primary healing of skin wounds and incisions with a threadless suture. Am J Surg 104:603–612

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Cromi A, Ghezzi F, Gottardi A, Cherubino M, Uccella S, Valdatta L (2010) Cosmetic outcomes of various skin closure methods following cesarean delivery: a randomized trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol 203:36.e1–36.e8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Selo-Ojeme DO, Lim KB (2002) Randomised clinical trial of suture compared with adhesive strip for skin closure after HRT implant. BJOG. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-0328(02)02515-6

  15. Schönberger JPAM, Hamad MAS, van de Gevel DFD, Ostertag JU, Elenbaas TWO (2010) Is the use of Steri-Strip™ S for wound closure after coronary artery bypass grafting better than intracuticular suture? Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg 10:561–564

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Lazar HL, McCann J, Fitzgerald CA, Cabral HJ (2011) Adhesive strips versus subcuticular suture for mediansternotomy wound closure. J Card Surg 26:344–347

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Stavrou P, Symeonidis PD, Iselin LD, Dracopoulos G (2012) Sutures versus sterile strips for closure of ankle arthroscopy portals: prospective crossover trial. Foot Ankle Int. https://doi.org/10.3113/fai.2012.0190

  18. Takayama S, Yamamoto T, Tsuchiya C, Noguchi H, Sato J, Ishii Y (2017) Comparing Steri-Strip and surgical staple wound closures after primary total knee arthroplasties. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 27:113–118

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Yang S, Ozog D (2015) Comparison of traditional superficial cutaneous sutures versus adhesive strips in layered dermatologic closures on the back - a prospective, randomized split-scar study. Dermatol Surg 41:1257–1263

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Alam MS, Sabah M, Mahmood F, Saquib M, Rizvi SAR (2018) A prospective comparative study between subcuticular and sutureless technique of skin closure following external dacryocystorhinostomy. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg 35:318–321

    Google Scholar 

  21. Stocco C, Berton F, Papa G, Bussani R, Arnež ZM (2016) Vicryl hypersensitivity test with histological response. Dermatitis. 27:145–146

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgical and Dental Specialties, Plastic Surgery Unit, University of Study degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy

    Antonio Guastafierro, Gorizio Pieretti, Sara Izzo & Giovanni Francesco Nicoletti

  2. Division of Plastic Surgery, Ospedale Accreditato Villa dei Fiori, Acerra, Naples, Italy

    Stefano Avvedimento & Feliciano Ciccarelli

  3. Department of Surgical, Oncological and Stomatological Disciplines, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    Eliana Gulotta

Authors
  1. Antonio Guastafierro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Stefano Avvedimento
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gorizio Pieretti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Eliana Gulotta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Sara Izzo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Giovanni Francesco Nicoletti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Feliciano Ciccarelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stefano Avvedimento.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Antonio Guastafierro, Stefano Avvedimento, Gorizio Pieretti, Eliana Gullotta, Sara Izzo, Giovanni Francesco Nicoletti and Feliciano Ciccarelli declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All the procedures performed in this study were in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. A local ethics committee has confirmed that no ethical approval is required for this retrospective study.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

The work is to be attributed to the Division of Plastic Surgery, Ospedale Accreditato Villa dei Fiori, Acerra, Naples, Italy.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Guastafierro, A., Avvedimento, S., Pieretti, G. et al. Steri-Strips™ vs. intracuticular skin suture in endoscopic release of carpal tunnel: a retrospective study and review of the literature. Eur J Plast Surg 43, 415–420 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-020-01680-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-020-01680-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation