Paper Tape May Improve Scar Aesthetics and Prevent Wound Closure Complications.
Catherine Stratis, Syed Ali Haider, Olachi Oleru and 3 others
PMID 38166309WHAT IT FOUND
Paper tape used after surgery was linked to shorter skin closure time and better scars.
Nurses can consider it for wound and scar care, but monitor skin reactions and limited evidence.
Key findings
01Five studies reported statistically significant positive outcomes on scar aesthetics and wound closure when paper tape was used.
02Atkinson et al. found 0% hypertrophic scarring in the paper tape group and 41% in the control group among 70 participants.
03Chen et al. and Luckraz et al. reported reduced skin closure time with paper tape compared with sutures, with participant counts of 300 and 60.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The review included eight studies that differed in purpose, tape type, application duration, and outcome measures, so the results cannot be combined into one clear recommendation. Some included studies did not use a standardized scar or wound scale, and others used different scales. Five of eight studies were conducted in Japan or Taiwan, and only two reported participant race, limiting generalizability to more diverse patients. Some included studies were case series or expert opinion, so positive findings may be descriptive rather than comparative. The review excluded articles before 1990, inaccessible articles, reviews, and basic science studies, so relevant evidence may be missing.
Declared interests
The authors reported no financial interests or conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that paper tape reduces wound complications compared with sutures. The included studies reported shorter closure time, but complication differences were not significant.