Key points
- In the reported studies there are no statistically significant
differences in short term patient and clinician reported cosmetic
outcomes between sutures, staples and tissue adhesives.
- Staples and tissue adhesives offer a faster closure time than sutures,
whilst staples are significantly more expensive than sutures.
- No studies reported on the impact of surgical wound closure techniques
on patient body image or quality of life.
- There is no significant difference in post-operative wound
complications between sutures staples and tissue adhesives.
- The current literature is of poor quality and has a moderate to high
risk of bias. Further high-quality studies are required to assess the
impact of wound closure techniques on wound cosmesis, patient quality
of life, and body image.