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QUESTION: Is a new technique of treating scalp lacerations (the hair apposition technique [HAT]) as effective as standard suturing for wound healing, complications, and pain?
Design
Randomised (allocation concealed), unblinded, controlled trial with follow up at 1 week.
Setting
The emergency departments (EDs) of 2 tertiary care hospitals in Singapore.
Patients
189 patients of any age (mean age 32 y, 74% men) with linear non-stellate lacerations of the scalp that were <10 cm in length and with scalp hair >3 cm in length. Exclusion criteria were severely contaminated wounds, actively bleeding wounds that did not stop bleeding after ≥5 minutes of applied pressure, and unstable vital signs or neurological status requiring priority resuscitation. 188 patients (99%) were included in the analysis.
Intervention
96 patients were allocated to the HAT. Wounds were cleansed according to …