THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE HAIR APPOSITION TECHNIQUE IN COMPARISON TO THE TRADITIONAL SUTURING AND STAPLING FOR SCALP LACERATIONSAN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY AT A TEACHING HOSPITAL IN RURAL INDIA

Abstract

Aim: Scalp lacerations are commonly found in patients presenting with road trafc accidents to the casualty. These lacerations can be repaired with suturing, stapling, adhesive tapes, or tissue adhesives. In this study, we tried to compare the effectiveness of suturing, stapling, and hair apposition techniques in repairing scalp lacerations of patients who presented to casualty. Materials and Methods: After obtaining approval from the institutional ethics committee, we examined the effects of the techniques in repairing scalp lacerations on wound healing, complication rate, and patient satisfaction by recording data. Results: Out of the 150 patients observed in our study, there was a signicant difference between the scalp repair technique on the 7th and 15th-day patient satisfaction rates in favour of the hair apposition technique (p<0.05). There was a signicant difference between the scalp repair technique and cosmetic problems after 15 days (p<0.05). Cosmetic problems 15 days after the procedure were signicantly lower in the hair apposition technique. Conclusion: In patients presenting to emergency departments with linear scalp laceration, suturing, stapling, and hair apposition techniques can be safely applied. However, the hair apposition technique has the advantages of being more satisfying and having lower cosmetic problems and complication rates than other techniques