Various Applications of Purse-String Suture and Its Cosmetic Outcome in Cutaneous Surgical Defects

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Dermatologic Surgery
• Wound Healing

Background:

• Purse-string suture is a versatile technique for reducing wound dimensions.
• It facilitates complete or partial closure of skin defects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To categorize indications for purse-string suture use.
• To evaluate long-term scar size reduction and cosmetic results.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 105 patients undergoing purse-string sutures (Jan 2015-Dec 2019).
• Assessment of wound location, reconstruction method, repair time, final wound size, and Vancouver Scar Scale.

Main Results:

• Multilayered purse-string sutures reduced repair duration and minimized scar size (ratio 0.67±0.23).
• Average Vancouver Scar Scale was 1.62, with an 8.6% risk of hypertrophic scarring.
• No significant difference in scar outcomes across different surgical methods.

Conclusions:

• Purse-string sutures are effective in reducing scar size across various reconstruction stages.
• The technique achieves favorable cosmetic outcomes without compromising scar quality.