Dermabrasion to improve scars after Mohs micrographic surgery using a split-scar comparison
Intraoperative Dermabrasion in Mohs Surgery: A Randomized Split-Scar Trial
We will try dermabrasion on part of a facial or neck wound after Mohs surgery in adults to see if it improves how the scar looks.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Wisconsin, Madison Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Madison, Wisconsin) |
| Trial ID | NCT07213921 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This interventional split-scar study applies intraoperative dermabrasion to one portion of a linear facial or neck closure after Mohs micrographic surgery while the other portion receives the usual care, allowing direct within-patient comparison. Fifty participants with predicted linear closures of at least 4 cm will be enrolled and followed for outcomes up to six months. The primary outcome is scar appearance at three months judged by the observer component of the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), with secondary outcomes including the patient portion of POSAS, overall patient opinion, and complication rates. The dermabrasion technique used here is investigational in this context and is performed during the surgical procedure.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults scheduled for Mohs surgery on the face or neck with an expected linear closure of 4 cm or more who can give informed consent and return for follow-up visits.
Not a fit: Patients with wounds expected to close under 4 cm, surgeries outside the face or neck, or those who cannot complete follow-up would be unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could lead to better cosmetic scars after Mohs surgery on the face and neck.
How similar studies have performed: Dermabrasion has been used historically to improve scars, but its effect specifically after Mohs micrographic surgery has not been well tested in controlled split-scar trials.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Able to give informed consent themselves * Scheduled for cutaneous surgical procedure on the face or neck with predicted linear closure greater than 4 centimeters. * Willing to return for follow up visit within the evaluation period Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with impaired decision-making capacity * Significant vision or hearing impairments * Pregnant Individuals * Incarceration * Wounds with predicted closure length less than 4 cm
Where this trial is running
Madison, Wisconsin
- UW Health Mohs Surgery Clinic — Madison, Wisconsin, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Gloria Xu, MD, PhD — UW School of Medicine and Public Health
- Study coordinator: Dermatology Research
- Email: clinicaltrials@dermatology.wisc.edu
- Phone: 608-287-2622
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.