J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2018 Dec;29(6):649-655. 10.0000/jksem.2018.29.6.649.

Locking horizontal mattress suture as the alternative closure method for scalp lacerations difficult to suture with staple

• Sah SW
• Seol S
• Lee WJ
• Woo SH
• Kim DH
• Lee JY
• In S
• Kim B

• KMID: 2432055
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/jksem.2018.29.6.649

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This paper reports the possibility of using of a locking horizontal mattress suture technique in repairing lacerations that are difficult to suture with staples.
METHODS
Data were collected retrospectively over a 6-month period regarding the routine repair of scalp lacerations: those in areas injured by a high energy blunt mechanism, continued to bleed after pressure, nonlinear or damaged skin repaired with a locking horizontal mattress technique, and simple interrupted technique. The effects of the two techniques used to repair scalp lacerations on wound healing, complication rate, and patient satisfaction were examined. The categorical variables are expressed as the number and percent. A Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test was used for statistical analysis. A P-value less than 0.05 was considered significant.
RESULTS
Thirty-seven consecutive patients with scalp lacerations presented for care. Wound closure was accomplished with the locking horizontal mattress sutures in 40.5% (n=15) (median length, 5.0 cm; interquartile range [IQR], 4.0-7.0 cm). Simple interrupted sutures (median length, 4 cm; IQR, 3.0-5.0 cm) were used in 59.5% (n=22) (P=0.015). The frequency of additional bandage compression (P=0.008), frequency of exudative hemorrhage (P=0.018), and suture mark frequency at suture removal (P=0.047) were significantly lower in the locking horizontal mattress group.
CONCLUSION
The locking horizontal mattress suture, which has the advantage of a horizontal mattress suture, may be one of the ways that can be used alternatively to treat scalp lacerations that difficult to suture with staples.

Keyword

Suture techniques; Scalp; Lacerations

MeSH Terms

Bandages
Hemorrhage
Humans
Lacerations*
Methods*
Patient Satisfaction
Retrospective Studies
Scalp*
Skin
Suture Techniques
Sutures*
Wound Healing
Wounds and Injuries