COMPARISON OF EFFICACY OF POLYPROPYLENE WITH CHROMIC CATGUT SUTURE IN STITCHING PAEDIATRIC FACIAL LACERATIONS

Suturing Paediatric Facial Lacerations

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare 5/0 polypropylene suture with 5/0 chromic catgut in small clean pediatric facial laceration repair in terms of cosmetic outcome.
Study Design: Randomized controlled trial.
Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi from 26th May 2012 to 25th Nov 2012.
Patients and Methods: A total of 300 patients of both gender under 12 years of age, with small clean facial lacerations were selected and divided in two equal groups using random number tables. All the patients underwent suturing in minor operating theater of trauma centre CMH Rawalpindi as day care cases, under local anesthesia and aseptic measures. In group 1, polypropylene 5/0 suture was used where as in group 2 chromic catgut 5/0 was used for suturing. Aseptic dressing was applied. All patients were reviewed on 5th day (for stitch removal in polypropylene group) and 3 months post-operatively to establish cosmetic outcome which was determined by scar visual analog score both by parents of the child and consultant surgeon.
Results: The mean VAS (visual analog score) as observed by Consultant surgeon was 79.14 and 78.63 for polypropylene and chromic catgut groups respectively. The mean VAS observed by the parents of the child for respective groups was 76.67 and 76.03. The significance value was 0.961 for parental VAS and 0.988 for surgeons VAS depicting insignificant difference in both suture groups.
Conclusion: There is no long-term difference in cosmetic outcomes of both the sutures in the repair of facial lacerations in the pediatric population. No difference in complication rate of wound was observed. In addition, the parents of the children in absorbable suture group expressed satisfaction over prevention of psychological trauma of stitch removal.