Packing Versus no Packing for Cutaneous Abscess

NCT ID: NCT02822768

Last Updated: 2026-01-26

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

196 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2016-08-31

Study Completion Date

2026-04-30

Brief Summary

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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

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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

Conditions

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Cutaneous Abscess

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Packing

The patient is to have a long piece of gauze within the abscess cavity in an attempt to keep it open and allow purulent material to continue to drain after the initial incision and release of purulent material has been performed.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Packing

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

The patient will receive packing as part of their wound care

No packing

The patient is not to have packing of the abscess as part of the incision and drainage procedure

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

No packing

Intervention Type OTHER

The patient will not receive packing as part of their wound care

Interventions

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Packing

The patient will receive packing as part of their wound care

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

No packing

The patient will not receive packing as part of their wound care

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. All patients 18 years of age and above
2. Patients that require a cutaneous abscess incision and drainage
3. English-speaking subjects only

Exclusion Criteria

1. Unable to return for 48-hour follow-up.
2. Patients being admitted to the hospital or going to the operating room for incision and drainage
3. Pregnant patients
4. Patients less than 18 years of age
5. Prisoners or persons in police custody
6. Patients with infected bursa
7. Non-English speaking subjects
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University of California, San Francisco

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Michael Darracq, MD, MPH

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

UCSF - Fresno

Locations

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Community Regional Medical Center

Fresno, California, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Michael Darracq, MD, MPH

Role: CONTACT

559-499-6440

Jannet Castaneda, BA

Role: CONTACT

559-499-6435

Facility Contacts

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Michael Darracq, MD, MPH

Role: primary

559-499-6432

Jannet Castaneda, BA

Role: backup

559-499-6435

References

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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.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19388915 (View on PubMed)

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.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 9137156 (View on PubMed)

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.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 3881155 (View on PubMed)

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.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 3069102 (View on PubMed)

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.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 6805714 (View on PubMed)

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.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 3324596 (View on PubMed)

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.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15486749 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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2016052

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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