NCT01085929

Incision and Drainage Versus Needle Aspiration in Soft Tissue Abscesses

Ultrasound Guided Needle Drainage Versus Formal Incision and Drainage of Superficial Soft Tissue Abscesses in the Emergency Department Setting

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 3
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 101 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Worcester · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The incidence of skin and soft tissue infections has increased dramatically over the last decade, in part due to increased prevalence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA). Incision and drainage (I\&D) is considered the primary intervention, however some clinicians prefer ultrasound guided needle aspiration (US Asp). The investigators performed a randomized trial comparing US Asp to I\&D for uncomplicated skin and soft tissue abscesses, with a subgroup analysis of patients with CA-MRSA.

Conditions

• Abscess
• Cellulitis

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Incision and Drainage	Surgical incision of the skin surface followed by expression of purulence with or without debridement or manual exploration of abscess cavity.
PROCEDURE	Ultrasound Guided Aspiration	Ultrasound is used to identify the abscess cavity. An 18 gauge needle is introduced into the abscess cavity and manual aspiration of the abscess contents is attempted.

Timeline

• Start date: 2008-08-01
• Primary completion: 2009-11-01
• Completion: 2009-12-01
• First posted: 2010-03-12
• Last updated: 2010-03-12

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: United States