From the Research
For an 8 mm punch biopsy closure, I recommend allowing the wound to heal by second intention, as this method has been shown to result in equivalent cosmetic outcomes and lower costs compared to primary closure with sutures 1. When considering the closure of an 8 mm punch biopsy site, several factors must be taken into account, including the potential for scarring, wound infection, and patient satisfaction.
- The study by 1 found that healing by second intention resulted in equivalent cosmetic outcomes compared to primary closure with sutures, with a mean visual analog scale score of 57.1 for second intention and 58.9 for primary closure.
- Additionally, the study found that the median surface area of the biopsy scars at 9 months was similar between the two groups, with 32 mm^2 for second intention and 33 mm^2 for primary closure.
- However, it's worth noting that the study also found that volunteers preferred the appearance of the sites that healed with primary closure for the 8-mm biopsies.
- Despite this, the benefits of healing by second intention, including lower costs and equivalent cosmetic outcomes, make it a viable option for 8 mm punch biopsy closure.
- If primary closure is still desired, non-absorbable sutures such as nylon or polypropylene may be used, but this should be weighed against the potential benefits of healing by second intention 2.