Effect of Petrolatum Coating on Fast-absorbing Gut Suture

NCT07127029 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: FWH20160040H
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 14
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This study is designed to evaluate the effect of using petrolatum to coat gut suture. This coating is commonly performed to make the suture more easy to handle; however, it was unknown if it affects the absorption rate of the suture. Two gut sutures were placed into the skin of 14 healthy volunteers and randomized between coated and uncoated with petrolatum. Participants self-reported the time to resorption. The study concluded that there was no significant effect to the application of petrolatum, and reinforced that the gut sutures are a natural product with some inherent variability to their absorption.

Conditions

Suture; Suture Dermatologic; Mohs Micrographic Surgery; Suture Techniques; Dermatology; Closure Technique; Absorbable, Coated Sutures

Keywords

Petrolatum; Absorbable Suture; Gut Suture; Fast-absorbing Gut Suture; Wound Closure; Suture Coating

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Length of time that suture remains intact in skin following petrolatum coating compared with standard fast-absorbing gut suture.

  Length of time in hours of suture remaining in skin prior to breakdown was recorded for both uncoated and coated suture.

  Postprocedurally daily until suture is degraded (less than 2 weeks)

Study Arms (1)

6-0 Fast-Absorbing Gut Suture

EXPERIMENTAL

Two 6-0 fast-absorbing gut sutures were placed in the skin of deltoid, randomized to site A/B for the control (uncoated) and intervention (petrolatum coated) suture.

Device: Petrolatum coating of fast-absorbing gut suture

Interventions

Petrolatum coating of fast-absorbing gut suture DEVICE

6-0 fast absorbing gut suture was coated with sterile petrolatum and a single interrupted suture was placed into the skin of the deltoid

Also known as: petrolatum coating

6-0 Fast-Absorbing Gut Suture

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Healthy volunteers within department of Dermatology
• Able to receive care within the host facility (Dept of Defense)

You may not qualify if:

• current or planned pregnancy
• Allergy to lidocaine
• Infection on the shoulder site

Sponsors & Collaborators

• San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium: lead

Related Publications (1)

• Susong JR, Neiner JR. Effect of petrolatum coating on fast-absorbing gut suture. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Nov;79(5):952-953. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.04.041. Epub 2018 Apr 30. No abstract available.

  PMID: 29723559 BACKGROUND

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: FED
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 8, 2025
• First Posted: August 17, 2025
• Study Start: January 26, 2016
• Primary Completion: October 14, 2016
• Study Completion: October 14, 2016
• Last Updated: August 17, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share