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.