Packing Versus no Packing for Cutaneous Abscess
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Packing, No packing.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Cutaneous Abscess. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- United States
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
Is Routine Packing of Cutaneous Abscesses Necessary?
Overview
The goal of this study is to examine patients undergoing incision and drainage of cutaneous abscesses to determine if routine packing of the abscess cavity affects the need for further interventions such as repeat incision and drainage, antibiotic administration or hospital admission.
Detailed description
Study protocol:
1. Identification of a patient with a cutaneous abscess requiring incision and drainage 2. Written consent obtained from the patient 3. Study materials will be obtained
* Enrolling physician fills out pre-procedure information (see data sheet) * Enrollment data sheet has instructions indicating whether patient is to receive packing or not
* Use of random number generator to randomize all packets * Provider does abscess incision and drainage with or without packing according to the instructions * Enrolling physician fills out post-procedure information (see data sheet) * Patient returns within 48 hours for wound check with removal of packing if performed * Research coordinator or study physician calls the patient within 14 and 30 days after the procedure for follow-up
* Information from a return visit and/or the telephone follow-up
Interventions
- Procedure Packing
The patient will receive packing as part of their wound care - Other No packing
The patient will not receive packing as part of their wound care
Primary outcome measures
- Percentage of patients needing further treatment [Time frame: 14 days]
Secondary outcome measures (1)
- Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS pain) post procedure [Time frame: 14 days]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- All patients 18 years of age and above
- Patients that require a cutaneous abscess incision and drainage
- English-speaking subjects only
Exclusion criteria
- Unable to return for 48-hour follow-up.
- Patients being admitted to the hospital or going to the operating room for incision and drainage
- Pregnant patients
- Patients less than 18 years of age
- Prisoners or persons in police custody
- Patients with infected bursa
- Non-English speaking subjects
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Diagnostic
Study locations
United States · 1 center
- Community Regional Medical Center — Fresno
Publications
- O'Malley GF, Dominici P, Giraldo P, Aguilera E, Verma M, Lares C, Burger P, Williams E. Routine packing of simple cutaneous abscesses is painful and probably unnecessary. Acad Emerg Med. 2009 May;16(5):470-3. doi: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2009.00409.x. Epub 2009 Apr 10. PMID 19388915
- Abraham N, Doudle M, Carson P. Open versus closed surgical treatment of abscesses: a controlled clinical trial. Aust N Z J Surg. 1997 Apr;67(4):173-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1445-2197.1997.tb01934.x. PMID 9137156
- Stewart MP, Laing MR, Krukowski ZH. Treatment of acute abscesses by incision, curettage and primary suture without antibiotics: a controlled clinical trial. Br J Surg. 1985 Jan;72(1):66-7. doi: 10.1002/bjs.1800720125. PMID 3881155
- Barnes SM, Milsom PL. Abscesses: an open and shut case! Arch Emerg Med. 1988 Dec;5(4):200-5. doi: 10.1136/emj.5.4.200. PMID 3069102
- Simms MH, Curran F, Johnson RA, Oates J, Givel JC, Chabloz R, ALexander-Williams J. Treatment of acute abscesses in the casualty department. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1982 Jun 19;284(6332):1827-9. doi: 10.1136/bmj.284.6332.1827. PMID 6805714
- Sorensen C, Hjortrup A, Moesgaard F, Lykkegaard-Nielsen M. Linear incision and curettage vs. deroofing and drainage in subcutaneous abscess. A randomized clinical trial. Acta Chir Scand. 1987 Nov-Dec;153(11-12):659-60. PMID 3324596
- Tonkin DM, Murphy E, Brooke-Smith M, Hollington P, Rieger N, Hockley S, Richardson N, Wattchow DA. Perianal abscess: a pilot study comparing packing with nonpacking of the abscess cavity. Dis Colon Rectum. 2004 Sep;47(9):1510-4. doi: 10.1007/s10350-004-0620-1. Epub 2004 Jul 8. PMID 15486749
Identifiers
NCT: NCT02822768 · 2016052