Scar cosmesis and Post–operative Pain: A Comparison between Diathermy and Scalpel in Open Inguinal Hernioplasty – An Original Article

Dr. Vineeth Sudhindran; Dr. George Mathews John; Dr.Rajasekharan Pillai

Volume : IX, Issue : VII, July - 2019

Scar cosmesis and Post–operative Pain: A Comparison between Diathermy and Scalpel in Open Inguinal Hernioplasty – An Original Article

Dr. Vineeth Sudhindran, Dr. George Mathews John, Dr. Rajasekharan Pillai

Abstract :

Background:Effectiveness of electrosurgery in cutting through muscle, fat, fascia, small vessels and nerves is widely known, but controversy exists with regard to using diathermy to directly cut skin. It is believed that incision by electrosurgical devices result in cosmetically inferior scar. Method: This is a Prospective Observational Study conducted by the Department of General Surgery at a tertiary care center in Kochi, India between December 2014 and October 2016. Patients undergoing Open Inguinal Hernia Repair were assigned to either diathermy or scalpel groups. Scar cosmesis was assessed at 6 weeks after surgery using the Patient Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) and pain at the incision site was measured on first post operative day using Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Results: Scar cosmesis in diathermy group was found to be significantly better than the scalpel group (p < 0.05).The pain scores on post–operative day one were also significantly lower in the diathermy group compared to incisions made with scalpel (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Diathermy can be safely used to incise skin without causing a cosmetically inferior scar and also is associated with less post–operative pain.