Prolonged Usage of an Adhesive Wound Closure Device in Postoperative Facial Scar Management: A Split-Wound Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Additional skin support is promising in scar management, especially for wounds under high tension. Options for effective skin support are limited. This study aimed to determine whether prolonged use of an adhesive wound closure (AWC) device prevents scar spread and improves final appearance. Patients and Methods: This is a split-wound randomized evaluator-blinded study of 14 patients with facial wounds under high tension. After surgical closure, one half of each wound was randomly allocated to receive either standard care or additional 3-month treatment with an AWC device. Scar width, scar scale, and side effects were evaluated 12 months after surgery. Results: A significant difference was observed in scar width between the treated and nontreated sites at 12-month, with a mean difference of 1.024 (95% confidence interval, 0.347-1.700) mm in favor of the treated group. Scar widths in both groups increased rapidly in the first month after surgery and gradually increased until the sixth month. Scale for vascularization and relief were significantly lower in the treated sites. No significant differences were found in complications between two groups. Conclusions and Relevance: Prolonged usage of the AWC device prevented scar spread at 12 months and improved final scar scores in vascularization and relief. Clinical Trial Registration number: ChiCTR1900027155.