Comparison of Hair Knotting with Primary Suture and Stapler Techniques in Scalp Lacerations: A Prospective, Observational Study

Abstract

Aim:We aimed to compare the primary suture and stapler techniques with the hair knotting technique in patients presenting to the emergency department with scalp lacerations and investigate their efficacy in emergency service practice.Materials and Methods:This was a single-center prospective observational study in which patients were divided into three groups according to the treatment technique of hair knotting, stapler, and primary suture. Patients with a hair length greater than 3 cm and a linear incision less than 10 cm were included in the study. The duration of the procedures and the patients’ post-treatment complications, cosmetic problems, pain scores, and satisfaction status were evaluated.Results:A total of 120 patients were included in the study. The median length of stay in the emergency department in the hair knotting group was 23 min, which was shorter compared to the remaining stapler and primary suture (p=0.003 and p=0.001). The complication rates evaluated on days 7 and 14 were lower in the hair knotting group than in the primary suture group (p=0.002 and p=0.012, respectively). The hair knotting group also had a lower rate of cosmetic problems on days 0, 7, and 14 compared with the primary suture group (p=0.014, p=0.003, and p=0.027, respectively).Conclusion:Hair knotting can be used as an alternative technique to the stapler and suture techniques in the emergency department due to its lower cost, less painful nature of the procedure, shorter stay of patients in the emergency department, and requirement of no sedation or local anesthesia.

Keywords

• scalp laceration
• stapler
• hair knotting
• primary suture
• emergency service