Mechanical tension, inflammation, fibroblast activation, and extracellular matrix remodeling influence scar maturation; aesthetic suturing aims to optimize dermal alignment and tension redistribution to improve scar outcomes
Target Population
Patients with traffic accident–related injuries amenable to direct suturing without flap or graft reconstruction
Care Setting
Acute trauma care and wound repair in hospital/emergency settings
Key Highlights
Aesthetic suturing showed comparable time to complete and primary healing versus conventional suturing without increased short-term wound complications
Patients receiving aesthetic suturing had lower Vancouver Scar Scale scores, less scar pain, and higher satisfaction
Revisit and readmission rates were lower after aesthetic suturing, with consistent scar benefits across clinical subgroups
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Assess wound characteristics including contamination, tissue loss, and suitability for direct suturing
Use validated scar assessment tools such as the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) for follow-up
Management
Consider aesthetic suturing techniques to optimize dermal alignment and tension redistribution in traumatic lacerations
Prioritize patient-centered outcomes including scar appearance, symptom burden, and satisfaction alongside safety endpoints
Exclude patients with extensive tissue loss, severe contamination, or immunodeficiency from primary aesthetic suturing
Monitoring & Follow-up
Monitor for wound complications including infection, dehiscence, hematoma/seroma, and ischemia/necrosis
Evaluate scar maturation using standardized scales and patient-reported symptom scores during follow-up
Track healthcare utilization such as revisits and readmissions post-discharge
Risks
No significant increase in short-term wound complications observed with aesthetic suturing
Potential variability in outcomes due to injury mechanism, tissue damage, and contamination
Patient & Prescribing Data
117 patients with traffic accident–related lacerations treated between March 2023 and September 2024
Aesthetic suturing is associated with improved scar quality and patient satisfaction without compromising early wound healing or increasing complications
Clinical Best Practices
Employ meticulous dermal and epidermal alignment to reduce microischemia and suture-track inflammation
Redistribute mechanical tension across wound edges to mitigate fibrotic signaling during remodeling
Use validated scar assessment instruments to guide clinical evaluation and patient counseling
Tailor closure technique to wound characteristics and patient factors to optimize functional and cosmetic outcomes
Two patients presented months after minimally invasive facial procedures with persistent findings that ultimately revealed retained foreign bodies, according to a recent case series.
