TerminatedNot Applicable

Trial Comparing Cosmetic Outcomes of Pediatric Laceration Closure Using Skin Glue, Medical Tape Versus Stitches

Stopped: The COVID-19 pandemic made prospective enrollment no longer possible

United States55 participantsStarted 2017-09-23

Plain-language summary

There are several methods of closing a skin cut: stitches, skin glue, and medical tape. Stitches have been used for a long time to close skin cuts. Skin glue (invented in the 1970s) and medical tape (invented in the 1960s) are two newer methods to close skin cuts. The purpose of this study is to find out which method (stitches, skin glue, or medical tape) of closing skin cuts results in the least amount of scarring. Other things the investigators will be looking at are which method is the cheapest, which causes the least pain, which requires the least amount of sedation, and which method patients and parents like the best.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Medical complaint of laceration * Single, linear laceration * Laceration less than 5 cm in length and 0.5 cm in width * Laceration less than 12 hours old * Laceration minimally contaminated (no visible dirt in wound) * Parents and child speak English Exclusion Criteria: * Significant medical history that may impact wound healing (hematologic or oncologic diagnosis requiring chemotherapy, ichthyosis, epidermolysis bullosa, etc.) * Use of oral steroids (more than 5 days in the past month) * History of keloid formation * Allergy to skin glue, medical tape, or topical anesthetics * Lacerations requiring deep sutures * Lacerations caused by animal bites or scratches * Lacerations located on the scalp, eyebrow, eyelid, lip, mucosa, joint or nail bed * No access to photographic capabilities (camera or smartphone) and/or e-mail, OR unable to return to the Vanderbilt Children's Hospital Emergency Room to have a picture taken at 3 months

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Cosmetic Outcome of Scar at 3 Months

Timeframe: 3 months

Trial details

NCT IDNCT03280628

SponsorVanderbilt University Medical Center

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2021-02-01

Results submitted2022-03-30

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Laceration trials