Comparative evaluation of efficacy of skin staples and conventional sutures in closure of extraoral surgical wounds in neck region: A double-blind clinical study.

Background: The development of the skin stapling technique for surgical wound closure is less time-consuming than the conventional sutures.

Aim: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of skin staples and 4-0 prolene conventional suture in closure of extraoral surgical wounds in neck region in elective maxillofacial surgery.

Materials and methods: The study was conducted on a total of 60 patients, who were equally divided into three groups. In Group 1, wound closure was done using skin staples; in Group 2, wound closure was done using 4-0 prolene suture, and in Group 3, wound closure was done using both skin staples and 4-0 prolene suture. These groups were compared in terms of rate of wound closure; early postoperative pain; pain on the removal of staple and suture; rate of removal of staple and suture; scar evaluation by the clinician, patient, and two-blind observers on 15^th day, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months.

Results: The rate of closure was significantly faster in staple group than in suture group. There was no significant difference in the postoperative pain, pain on removal and rate of removal between the two methods of closure. However, within the groups, more postoperative pain was observed in wound with incision length of >5 cm. Initially, on 10^th postoperative day, the appearance of scar was significantly better in suture group but after 6 months, scar was better in staple group.

Conclusion: The staple method of wound closure appears to be better than conventional suture in terms of rate of closure and scar appearance.