Suture DermatologicNCT05074199
Comparison of Cosmetic Outcomes of Straight Line and W-plasty Techniques for Linear Wound Closure
A study testing W-plasty/Linear closure in people with Suture Dermatologic and Surgery, run by University of California, Davis at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to compare the cosmetic outcome of traditional straight-line (SL) linear closure to that of W plasty (a type of geometric broken-line cutaneous closure technique) for closure of post-auricular wounds resulting from harvest of full thickness skin grafts during Mohs micrographic surgery. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Suture Dermatologic, Surgery, Cosmetic Outcome
- What is being tested?
- W-plasty/Linear closure
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 50 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 26 Feb 2018to 1 Sep 2021
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 18 years of age or older
- Able to give informed consent themselves
- Patient scheduled for cutaneous surgical procedure on the head or face for which a full thickness skin graft will be used as part of the reconstruction or has a lesion that will be excised in mastoid area of the neck, behind the ear.
- Willing to return for follow up visit.
Who cannot join
- Wounds predicted to be less than 3 cm in size after closure.
- Unable to understand written and oral English
- Incarceration
- Under 18 years of age
- Pregnant Women
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
University of California, Davis
Sacramento, California, 95816
About this study
Official title: Comparison of Cosmetic Outcomes of Straight Line and W-plasty Techniques for Linear Wound Closure: a Randomized Evaluator Blinded Split Wound Comparative Effectiveness Trial
The purpose of this study is to compare the cosmetic outcome of traditional straight-line (SL) linear closure to that of W plasty (a type of geometric broken-line cutaneous closure technique) for closure of post-auricular wounds resulting from harvest of full thickness skin grafts during Mohs micrographic surgery. The research team will use a split wound model, where half of the wound is repaired with a straight-line cutaneous closure and the other half is repaired with the W-plasty technique. Three-months post-surgery, the scar will be measured via the patient observer scar assessment scale (POSAS), a validated scar instrument. The scar width, and adverse events will also be recorded.
Read the detailed description
Optimizing the cosmetic appearance of surgical scars is an important element of cutaneous surgery, especially for procedures performed on conspicuous areas of the body such as the head and face. Multiple factors have been shown to affect the aesthetic outcome of scars resulting from cutaneous surgery including the amount of tension on the resultant surgical wound, suture technique and type of sutures used. The use of various wound closure techniques including linear straight-line (SL) and geometric broken-line closure techniques (Z-plasty, W-plasty) to achieve a superior cosmetic scar outcome, has been debated in the dermatology and plastic surgery literature with few studies comparing SL and broken-line closure techniques and mixed results as to which modality provides a superior cosmetic outcome [2]. A study of forehead donor site closure in in 31 undergoing a paramedian forehead flap procedure showed that W-plasty provided a superior cosmetic outcome over straight-line closure, however another study in 30 patients undergoing tempo-parietal facial flaps found that W-plasty resulted in an inferior cosmetic outcome compared to linear closure. In addition, a large national survey of over 800 lay public participants found that linear scars were perceived as more cosmetically favorable than zig-zag scars in three facial locations (temple, cheek and forehead). Currently, there are no studies comparing the two closure techniques in a split-scar design, which can ameliorate many potentially confounding individual patient factors that could affect scar outcome.
Full-thickness skin grafts (FTSGs) are a commonly utilized reconstructive option in cutaneous surgery, and are typically harvested from behind the ear (postauricular) to close surgical defects on the head and face following surgical removal of both benign and malignant cutaneous tumors. This study aims to investigate whether the choice of straight-line linear closure versus a zig-zag broken line cutaneous closure technique (W-plasty) affects the cosmetic outcome of postauricular scars resulting from donor site closure following FTSG harvest. Additionally, skin lesions removed behind the ear present another opportunity to compare outcomes of these two techniques in an inconspicuous location.
- Conditions
- Suture Dermatologic, Surgery, Cosmetic Outcome
- Being tested
- W-plasty/Linear closure
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
W-plasty/Linear closureProcedure or surgery
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 predetermined, concealed randomization number will be obtained from the RedCap randomization module, which will specify how side A is to be treated. Side B will be treated the opposite way as A. Side A will always be closed first. The side assigned to be closed in a traditional straight line (SL) will have the standing cutaneous deformity ("dog ear") excised in the standard manner using Burrow's triangles, resulting in an elliptical defect amenable to linear closure. The side assigned to be closed with W-plasty will have the dog ear excised in a zig-zag fashion consistent with the W plasty flap design. Both sides of the wound will receive subcuticular closure with interrupted subdermal sutures as is the standard of care, followed by a standard running cuticular closure with absorbable suture material.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| W-plasty | Active comparator | The cosmetic appearance of scars closed in a in a "zig-zag" " fashion (W-plasty). Receives: Procedure: W-plasty/Linear closure |
| Linear closure | Active comparator | The cosmetic appearance of scars closed in a standard "straight line" fashion (linear closure). Receives: Procedure: W-plasty/Linear closure |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Patient Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) scores
The primary outcome is the difference in Patient Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) scores between the halves of the wound (standard linear closure versus W-plasty). The POSAS instrument incorporates separate questionnaires for observers and patients. Each questionnaire contains six items with possible scores from 0-10 for a total maximum score of 60 on each component (patient and observer).
Measured: 3-12 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted12 Oct 2021
- Study start26 Feb 2018
- Primary completion31 Aug 2021
- Study completion1 Sep 2021
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Suture DermatologicStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of California, DavisThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, Davis
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05074199
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 1195990
- Status last verified
- Sep 2021
- First submitted
- 29 Sep 2021
- Last updated
- 12 Oct 2021
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Mehrzad M, Kang AS, Armstrong AW, Eisen DB. Comparing Cosmetic Outcomes of Straight-Line Versus W-Plasty Techniques for Linear Postauricular Wound Closure: A Randomized Evaluator Blind Split-Scar Trial. Dermatol Surg. 2024 May 1;50(5):423-427. doi: 10.1097/DSS.0000000000004113. Epub 2024 Feb 28.
PubMed 38416811
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 12 Oct 2021. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparison of Cosmetic Outcomes of Straight Line and W-plasty Techniques for Linear Wound Closure: a Randomized Evaluator Blinded Split Wound Comparative Effectiveness Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05074199
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 1195990
- Conditions
- Suture Dermatologic, Surgery, Cosmetic Outcome
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, DavisUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 26 Feb 2018 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Aug 2021 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Sep 2021 (actual)
- First posted
- 12 Oct 2021 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to compare the cosmetic outcome of traditional straight-line (SL) linear closure to that of W plasty (a type of geometric broken-line cutaneous closure technique) for closure of post-auricular wounds resulting from harvest of full thickness skin grafts during Mohs micrographic surgery. The research team will use a split wound model, where half of the wound is repaired with a straight-line cutaneous closure and the other half is repaired with the W-plasty technique. Three-months post-surgery, the scar will be measured via the patient observer scar assessment scale (POSAS), a validated scar instrument. The scar width, and adverse events will also be recorded.
Detailed description
Optimizing the cosmetic appearance of surgical scars is an important element of cutaneous surgery, especially for procedures performed on conspicuous areas of the body such as the head and face. Multiple factors have been shown to affect the aesthetic outcome of scars resulting from cutaneous surgery including the amount of tension on the resultant surgical wound, suture technique and type of sutures used. The use of various wound closure techniques including linear straight-line (SL) and geometric broken-line closure techniques (Z-plasty, W-plasty) to achieve a superior cosmetic scar outcome, has been debated in the dermatology and plastic surgery literature with few studies comparing SL and broken-line closure techniques and mixed results as to which modality provides a superior cosmetic outcome [2]. A study of forehead donor site closure in in 31 undergoing a paramedian forehead flap procedure showed that W-plasty provided a superior cosmetic outcome over straight-line closure, however another study in 30 patients undergoing tempo-parietal facial flaps found that W-plasty resulted in an inferior cosmetic outcome compared to linear closure. In addition, a large national survey of over 800 lay public participants found that linear scars were perceived as more cosmetically favorable than zig-zag scars in three facial locations (temple, cheek and forehead). Currently, there are no studies comparing the two closure techniques in a split-scar design, which can ameliorate many potentially confounding individual patient factors that could affect scar outcome.
Full-thickness skin grafts (FTSGs) are a commonly utilized reconstructive option in cutaneous surgery, and are typically harvested from behind the ear (postauricular) to close surgical defects on the head and face following surgical removal of both benign and malignant cutaneous tumors. This study aims to investigate whether the choice of straight-line linear closure versus a zig-zag broken line cutaneous closure technique (W-plasty) affects the cosmetic outcome of postauricular scars resulting from donor site closure following FTSG harvest. Additionally, skin lesions removed behind the ear present another opportunity to compare outcomes of these two techniques in an inconspicuous location.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| W-plasty | Active comparator | Procedure: W-plasty/Linear closureThe cosmetic appearance of scars closed in a in a "zig-zag" " fashion (W-plasty). |
| Linear closure | Active comparator | Procedure: W-plasty/Linear closureThe cosmetic appearance of scars closed in a standard "straight line" fashion (linear closure). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- 18 years of age or older
- Able to give informed consent themselves
- Patient scheduled for cutaneous surgical procedure on the head or face for which a full thickness skin graft will be used as part of the reconstruction or has a lesion that will be excised in mastoid area of the neck, behind the ear.
- Willing to return for follow up visit.
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Wounds predicted to be less than 3 cm in size after closure.
- Unable to understand written and oral English
- Incarceration
- Under 18 years of age
- Pregnant Women
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| W-plasty/Linear closureThe 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 predetermined, concealed randomization number will be obtained from the RedCap randomization module, which will specify how side A is to be treated. Side B will be treated the opposite way as A. Side A will always be closed first. The side assigned to be closed in a traditional straight line (SL) will have the standing cutaneous deformity ("dog ear") excised in the standard manner using Burrow's triangles, resulting in an elliptical defect amenable to linear closure. The side assigned to be closed with W-plasty will have the dog ear excised in a zig-zag fashion consistent with the W plasty flap design. Both sides of the wound will receive subcuticular closure with interrupted subdermal sutures as is the standard of care, followed by a standard running cuticular closure with absorbable suture material. | Procedure or surgery | Linear closure, W-plasty |
Primary outcome
Patient Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) scores
Time frame: 3-12 months
The primary outcome is the difference in Patient Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) scores between the halves of the wound (standard linear closure versus W-plasty). The POSAS instrument incorporates separate questionnaires for observers and patients. Each questionnaire contains six items with possible scores from 0-10 for a total maximum score of 60 on each component (patient and observer).
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 12 Oct 2021.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 38416811Mehrzad M, Kang AS, Armstrong AW, Eisen DB. Comparing Cosmetic Outcomes of Straight-Line Versus W-Plasty Techniques for Linear Postauricular Wound Closure: A Randomized Evaluator Blind Split-Scar Trial. Dermatol Surg. 2024 May 1;50(5):423-427. doi: 10.1097/DSS.0000000000004113. Epub 2024 Feb 28.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing W-plasty/Linear closure in people with Suture Dermatologic and Surgery, run by University of California, Davis at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 12 Oct 2021. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Patient Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) scores (time frame: 3-12 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05074199, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 12 Oct 2021; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.