A Study On The Reduction Of Neck Scar Growth By A Combination Of A Protective Margin Spreader Device And A Modified Tension-reducing Suture

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of using a self-initiated margin protection and spreading device to protect,spread and reduce the flap during thyroidectomy via an anterior curved neck incision,combining several modified reduction sutures to close the incision,and using early scar management strategies to intervene in the early stages of scarring to reduce scar growth in the neck after surgery.Methods:Patients who underwent unilateral thyroid lobectomy with isthmus resection + unila-teral VI lymph node dissection via anterior cervical incision from June 2020 to Dece-mber 2020 were randomly divided into two groups according to random number table method.The self-initiated margin protection spacer combined with modified tensile sutures as the observation group and the traditional margin protection measures combin-ed with traditional suture method as the control group.Postoperative interven-tion in the early stages of scarring is recommended for both groups using early scar manageme-nt strategies.The first follow-up period was set as 3 to 4 months after surgery,and the second follow-up period was set as 6 to 8 months after surgery.The Vancouver Scar Scale（VSS）and the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale（POSAS）were used to collect intraoperative and postoperative data of the two groups for statistical analysis.Results:There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of gender,age,Body Mass Index（BMI）,operation time,number of lymph node dissection in the central area and postoperative complication rate,which were not statistically significant（P>0.05）;there were no statistically significant differences between the VSS and POSAS scores of the first follow-up period and those of the control group（P>0.05）,but the VSS and POSAS scores of the second follow-up period were better than those of the control group（P<0.05）.Conclusion:The self-initiated margin protection spacer device can reduce the intraoperative ten-sion and protect the flap for high-tension linear scars formed in the neck,The impro-ved attenuation and suturing method shortens the cycle of scar immaturity caused by ischemia of the skin margin caused by excessive tension,improves the appearance of scars,and reduces the incidence of scar hyperplasia.