2.3 | Surgical technique
All patients underwent oral cavity cancer surgery through an intraoral approach. Primary closure, regional flap, or free flap were performed according to location and size of the defects. We used the STRATAFIX™ Symmetric PDS™ Plus 4-0 (Ethicon Inc., Somerville, NJ) for defect closure in the barbed suture group (Figure 1). Suturing was started from the deep portion of the defect, such as base of the tongue or narrow space close to the teeth. We performed continuous running suturing and created a single knot at the start of the suturing. We cut the protruding end of barbed suture by pulling the stitch due to prickling sensation at 2 weeks after the surgery.
In the interrupt suture group, suturing also was started from the deepest portion of the defects using Vicryl (Ethicon Inc., Somerville, NJ), and interrupt knots were created along the closure line.