Undermining Apices in Surgical Wounds

When patients have surgery on the neck, trunk, arms, or legs, stitches are the standard way to close the wound. Wounds always result in a scar, but doctors are always looking for ways to reduce scarring. Several studies have been done to test ways to close wounds that reduce scarring. One idea is to reduce the tension around the cut. One way to reduce tension is to free up the skin around the wound. This procedure is also called "undermining". Some studies have shown that freeing up the skin near the tips of the wound, called the "apices," is helpful for improving the cosmetic outcome of scars. This study will investigate if there are any differences in the appearances of the scar if one tip is undermined and the other is not.

Reducing scar tissue formation and postoperative complications in wound closure has remained the focus of recent studies and decreases the cost and time burden of follow-up visits and procedures. Such studies have highlighted the impact of mechanical forces and tension on scar formation, demonstrating that reducing the mechanical stress within the wound environment results in better aesthetic outcomes. Undermining peripheral and apices of the wound has been used in the closure of large and tight defects allowing the closure of these wounds by reducing the tension. Undermining has been shown to reduce tension, and peripheral and apical undermining has been recommended for decreasing scar formation. However, extensive undermining may increase the complications of the surgery by reducing vascularization and creating a space for hematomas. To our knowledge, the impact of scar cosmesis and the rate of postoperative complications in apical undermining in the linear repair of surgical wounds have not been studied, and it remains unknown whether undermining the apices can decrease the protrusion of the scar tissue at the edges. This study seeks to determine the effectiveness of apical undermining of linear wound closures in improving scar cosmesis by using individuals as their own controls in a split-scar model.

This is a single center, randomized, evaluator-blinded, split wound study.

After screening and informed consent, demographic data will be collected including age, race, gender, and medical record number. This will be collected within the Redcap database.

The patient's wound will be labeled A if it is on the left or superior side of the investigator and B if it is on the right or inferior side. A concealed randomization result will be obtained from the Redcap randomization module, which will specify which side, A or B, will receive apical undermining

Following this, both sides of the wound will be sutured together with a subcutaneous (bottom) layer of stitches. Next, a cutaneous layer of sutures will be placed, as is the standard of care. A digital image of the wound after the epidermal closure will be obtained; these may be used in scientific talks and/or for publication purposes. The patient will then be instructed to continue dressing changes along the entire length of the surgical site until the wound is fully healed as is the standard of care.

Treatment assignment, wound length, demographic data, and digital images will be recorded within the Redcap database. Follow-up assessment will be scheduled for three months following the procedure, with a one-month window before or after that time if the patient cannot return at precisely three months.