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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06287866

Pinch Grafting Versus Second Intention Wound Healing for Mohs Micrographic Surgery Defects on the Scalp

Oftentimes, following surgery on the scalp, wounds are left to heal by themselves. This is called "second intention." Open wounds left to heal on the scalp often take 8 weeks or more to completely heal. The investigators are investigating how second intention closure compares to another established reconstruction technique, called "pinch graft." In the pinch graft technique, a dermatological surgeon numbs and then shaves off a thin piece of skin (usually from the groin area) and places it in the wound bed it (also known as "grafting"), to encourage growth of new healthy skin. This study will compare time-to-healing in the second intention method versus the pinch graft method.

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Key information

Conditions

Scarring Cicatrix Fibrosis Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of California, Davis - Dermatology Department

Sacramento, California, 95816, United States

About this study

Pinch graft methodology was first developed in 1976 as a treatment to accelerate healing of lower leg ulcerations, particularly venous or gravitational ulcerations (1, 2). It was later adapted as a tool to hasten healing in surgical wounds, such as surgical closure of diabetic foot wounds (3). It has also been used in the healing of patients with wounds related to dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (4). More recently, pinch grafts have been investigated as a reconstruction option for Mohs micrographic surgery defects (5). In this study, patients with below the knee Mohs surgical defects were randomized to receive either PG reconstruction or SIH reconstruction. Patients with PG reconstruction healed 20 days sooner (i.e., faster time to reepithelialization) than those who underwent SIH. Complication rates, including infection and reported pain, were also lower in the PG cohort compared to the SIH cohort. SIH is often recommended as a reconstruction technique for surgical wounds without adjacent skin laxity to support primary closure, such as the anterior lower extremity and scalp. There is no study to date examining the use of pinch grafts in scalp wounds. In our study, the investigators explore whether PG is a viable and useful reconstruction method for wounds on the scalp that otherwise would be left to close via SIH. Specifically, in our study, the investigators examine the comparative time to healing and complication rates between PG and SIH in Mohs surgical defects of the scalp.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • 18 years of age or older
  • Able to give informed consent themselves
  • Patient scheduled for cutaneous surgical procedure on the scalp with predicted second intention closure
  • Willing to return for follow up visit
  • Active user of MyChart
  • Willing to send weekly messages until wound is healed

Exclusion criteria

  • Incarceration
  • Under 18 years of age
  • Pregnant women
  • Unable to understand written and oral English
  • Scalp wounds with planned primary repair reconstruction
  • Surgical defects with bone exposure
  • No MyChart access or use

Treatment and study plan

Pinch Graft

Procedure

In the pinch graft technique, the investigators will numb and then shave off a thin piece of skin and place it in the wound bed.

Primary outcomes

  1. Time to re-epithelialization

    Time frame: 1-8 weeks

    Participants will submit weekly photos to blinded reviewers to assess for re-epithelization.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Observer Scar Assessment as measured by Patient Observer Scar Assessment Score (POSAS)

    Time frame: 3 months

    The primary endpoint will be the score of two blinded reviewers independently using the POSAS assessment. The observer scale of the POSAS consists of six items (vascularity, pigmentation, thickness, relief, pliability, and surface area). All items are scored on a scale ranging from 1 ("like normal skin") to 10 ("worst scar imaginable"). The sum of the six items results in a total score of the POSAS observer scale. Furthermore, an overall opinion is scored on a scale ranging from 1 to 10. All parameters should preferably be compared to normal skin on a comparable anatomic location.

  2. Patient Scar Assessment as measured by Patient Observer Scar Assessment Score (POSAS)

    Time frame: 3 months

    This is the patient portion of the POSAS assessment, which will be independently recorded. The patient scale of the POSAS consists of six items (pain, itch, thickness, color, stiffness, and irregularity). All items are scored on a scale ranging from 1 ("as normal skin") to 10 ("yes, very different"). The sum of the six items results in a total score of the POSAS patient scale. Furthermore, an overall opinion is scored on a scale ranging from 1 to 10.

Interested in participating?

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Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of California, Davis

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Mar 1, 2024
Registry last updated
Sep 14, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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