Objective: To compare the aesthetic outcome of cervical lymph node excision skin closure between Steri-Strips closure and simple interrupted sutures using Nylon 6-0.

Materials and Methods: The present study was a single-blinded randomized controlled trial of forty patients with cervical lymph node excision. They were randomized into two groups of twenty. The first group was allocated to close the skin by simple interrupted sutures with Nylon 6-0, the other group received the Steri-Strips for skin closure. Complications were observed at the first and second week. The aesthetic outcomes for skin closure were evaluated at 12 weeks postoperatively using the predetermined Sakka’s cosmetic assessment criteria and scoring system.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of gender, age, length of surgical wound, and pathology. The Steri-Strips group showed significantly lower Sakka’s aesthetic score compared to the 6-0 Nylon sutures group (6.25±0.85 and 7.75 ±1.33, p<0.001). There was no significant difference in aesthetic outcomes between genders. Moreover, the operative time of the Steri-Strips group was significantly less than that of the 6-0 Nylon sutures group (2.2±0.41 and 4.75±0.44 minutes, p<0.001).

Conclusion: Skin closure with Steri-Strips gave better aesthetic outcomes compared to the 6-0 Nylon sutures (p<0.001). However, the aesthetic outcomes were assessed by physicians, so the patients’satisfaction could not be assessed.

Keywords: Lymph node biopsy; Hypertrophic scar; Keloid; Cosmetic outcome; Steri-strip

DOI: doi.org/10.35755/jmedassocthai.2021.07.12306

Received 9 March 2021 | Revised 14 May 2021 | Accepted 14 May 2021