Successful Use of Percutaneous Dissolvable Sutures During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Review

Abstract

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has had dramatic effects on all fields of medicine, including an effort to limit in-person visits. Within dermatologic surgery, one strategy is to close surgical incisions using percutaneous absorbable sutures. To the authors’ knowledge, there are no large studies comparing changes in suture preferences and subsequent outcomes during the pandemic.

Objective

To assess changes in suture preference and frequency of post-operative complications for percutaneous absorbable and non-absorbable sutures during the pandemic.

Methods

A retrospective review of 1358 Mohs surgeries completed at the Cleveland Clinic during a 2-month period prior to COVID-19 and a matched 2-month period during the pandemic.

Results

Sutures were used to close 1103 cases. Significantly more closures were performed with percutaneous absorbable sutures during COVID-19 (87.6%, 39.6%; P < .0001). There was no significant difference in the frequency of post-operative complications between suture materials (P = .48). The use of absorbable sutures were associated with a significantly higher frequency of suture hypersensitivity reaction (P = .020) but significantly lower frequency of infection (P = .021) and wound dehiscence (P < .0001).

Conclusions

Suture preference shifted towards absorbable sutures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Percutaneous absorbable sutures offered a formidable alternative to non-absorbable sutures and could reduce in-person follow-up visits without increasing post-operative complications.