MONDAY, July 12 (HealthDay News) -- There is little difference in cosmetic outcomes for patients whose cesarean section wounds were closed by staples and those whose wounds were closed with subcuticular sutures, according to research published in the July issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Antonella Cromi, Ph.D., of the University of Insubria in Varese, Italy, and colleagues studied 123 patients who were randomized to skin closure after cesarean section with either staples or one of three types of subcuticular sutures. Scar appearance across the different approaches was compared.
At both two and six months, the researchers noted no differences in subjective or objective rating across the groups, as measured by the Vancouver Scar Scale, the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), and a visual analog scale. Patient assessment and objective scores correlated, most strongly between observer and patient pieces of the POSAS.
"The results reported herein show that in women undergoing cesarean delivery there are no long-term differences in cosmetic outcomes between stapled wounds and those closed with subcuticular sutures using different materials. Therefore, the final decision about the choice of method and suture materials should be made balancing patient comfort (e.g., not having to remove sutures) and surgeon needs (time saving with staples may not be of importance in an elective setting but may be more relevant in an emergency situation in the setting of a busy labor and delivery unit)," the authors conclude.
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