An Absorbable Suture Versus a Non-absorbable Suture in Carpal Tunnel Release, a Randomized Controlled Trial

Skin Closure With a Fast Absorbable Braided Suture Versus a Non-absorbable Monofilament Suture in Open Carpal Tunnel Release, a Randomized Controlled Trial

The study compares two widely used treatments in closing the wound after open carpal tunnel release surgery: absorbable and non-absorbable sutures. It is conducted as a randomized controlled trial, where the participants are divided into two research groups. The visual outcome of the scar will be evaluated a year after the surgery.

Absorbable sutures are more cost efficient and eliminate the need for suture removal both reducing costs and abolishing suture removal pain. We will study the difference in the visual outcome between the two groups. Based on former study the primary hypothesis is that there is no difference between the groups. The patients will evaluate their scars on a VAS-scale one year after the surgery. Secondarily we will focus on pain caused by the two sutures and take the suture removal pain into consideration. We expect therefore the non-absorbable suture to cause more pain in total. The evaluation will happen 2 weeks after the surgery by the patients.

Inclusion Criteria

• carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosed with electro near my-graphs
• symptoms typical of carpal tunnel syndrome
• referral to carpal tunnel release
• informed consent signed
• the ability to receive the virtual questionnaire via email and answer it
• the ability to understand and answer the Finnish questionnaires

Exclusion Criteria

• repeat surgery
• known allergy to suture materials
• ongoing systemic steroid treatment
• ongoing chemotherapy
• ongoing immunomodulatory treatment
• past hypertrophic or keloid scars or other severe disturbances in wound healing
• age under 18, pregnancy or breastfeeding