Evaluation of cosmetic outcome and patient satisfaction following adhesive strips and staples wound closure in primary total knee arthroplasty

Background: Most surgical wound closure techniques include using materials that may require removal after surgery. Surgical skin sutures and staples are popular skin closure materials that require removal after surgery and are usually associated with patient discomfort and crosshatching of the skin. Adhesive strips are a newer, non-invasive technique for skin closure in orthopaedic procedures, and they have been documented to have fewer wound-related complications. The cosmetic scores of surgical scars can be assessed by the Hollander Wound Evaluation Score (HWES), the visual analogue scale (VAS), and the numeric rating scale (NRS). Objective: Patient satisfaction with surgical scars between adhesive strips and skin staples was compared via the Hollander wound evaluation score, visual analogue scale score, and Numeric rating scale score. To compare wound cosmesis between adhesive strips and skin staples using the Hollander wound evaluation score and visual analogue score. To compare pain on removal of wound closure material using the numeric rating scale. Method: Group A received skin closure with adhesive strips, whereas Group B received skin closure with staples. In week 2, the assessment of discomfort from removing coaptive material for patients in groups A and B was performed using the numeric rating scale score. At week 6, the surgical scar was assessed using the VAS score and the HWES. The outcome measures were scar cosmesis and pain score on the removal of skin closure material. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the NRS score with participants in the adhesive strip group having a lower score, with a P value of 0.000 (<0.05). The VAS score and HWES were higher in the adhesive strip group than in the skin staple group, with a P value of 0.000 (<0.05). Conclusion: Patients in the adhesive strip group experienced less pain and discomfort at strip removal and were more satisfied with their scars. The cosmetic scores for scars in the adhesive strip group were significantly higher than those in the skin staple group.