Bloom, MBBS (Hons), FRACS (Plas)* Background: Learning curves can reflect a surgical trainee's rate of progress and competence in acquiring new skills. The INSORB subdermal staple device has been well established to facilitate decreased closure time across various surgical procedures, with similar cosmesis, healing, and consistency as those of standard subdermal sutures. This study is unique, as it demonstrated an observable learning curve with this device when used by a junior surgeon. Methods: Sixty-six patients underwent a cosmetic procedure during the second half of 2019 under the care of a single plastic surgeon in Melbourne, Australia. This corresponded to 254 unique linear incisions. Subdermal closure was done either with interrupted 3-0 Monocryl sutures or with the INSORB device. The consultant closed the incisions on one side, with the contralateral incision closed by the assistant using the same closure method. Data were then compared retrospectively, and closure times were compared over the ensuing 6 months. Results: Overall, consultant closure speed is 25% faster than assistant speed. When using 3-0 Monocryl, the difference is 33%, whereas the difference is reduced to 21% when using the INSORB. Furthermore, a mild learning curve could be appreciated with the assistant's use of the INSORB over the comparatively short 6-month study period. Conclusions: In addition to improved speed, cost, outcome, and ergonomics, subdermal absorbable staples may also garner a faster learning curve than standard closure with 3-0 Monocryl. This study supported the learning curve of a surgical device as another innovative benefit and an important aspect of developing surgical technology.
Background: Split thickness skin graft (STSG) is a routine reconstructive manoeuvre, particularly after excision of cutaneous lower limb malignancies. While surgical technique is well established, evidence supporting the postoperative management of these grafts is less robust. Compression therapy after the index procedure may be an important adjunct for graft take and minimizing complications, particularly in patients susceptible to oedema from a concurrent lymph node procedure.Methods: An initial PubMed literature search was performed using the terms "split thickness skin graft", "compression" and "oedema" yielding no results, hence a broader search was performed combining the terms "compression", "pressure" and "split thickness skin graft" providing 383 results. One hundred articles remained for abstract review after an initial screen.
Results:The literature on compression therapy to promote split thickness graft take is modest, with only 12 articles described (12/100, 12.0%). Even then, none of these were in the setting of grafting after oncological resection. Many of the articles promote negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) as an established adjunct to promote graft take (80/100, 80.0%).Conclusions: There is limited demonstrated efficacy of postoperative compression therapy for lower limb STSG let alone in patients with an ancillary lymph node procedure. Further large-scale trials ideally in a prospective fashion are warranted to validate this as a simple, widely available and cost-effective adjunct to STSG in this particularly susceptible population of reconstructive patients.
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