Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria included any randomised or non-randomised trials comparing the cosmetic outcomes of sutures, staples, surgical tape, or tissue glue in Otolaryngology head and neck procedures. Included studies were performed in adult patients undergoing any elective head and neck operation including neck dissection, wide local excision, open lymph node biopsy, laryngectomy, pharyngectomy, parotidectomy, and submandibular gland excision. No limitations were set on year of publication, patient ethnicity, or surgical techniques.
Studies that investigated cosmetic outcomes thyroid and parathyroid, oral and maxillofacial, facial plastic, and emergency surgery were not included. Additionally, conference abstracts, letters to editor, responses, and unpublished data were also excluded. Studies were also removed if they lacked sufficient data on the operation, patient demographics or post-operative cosmetic outcomes.