Incisive Surgical Launches New National Patient Advocacy Campaign -- Eliminate Traumatic Metal Skin Staples for Routine Skin Closure

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Incisive Surgical, Inc., the maker of the revolutionary INSORB® Absorbable Skin Stapler, today announced the launch of a new national patient advocacy campaign “Eliminate Traumatic Metal Skin Staples for Routine Skin Closure.” This campaign features a new website, www.ihatemetalskinstaples.com, which offers information regarding skin closure options available to patients undergoing surgery metal skin staples, absorbable suture and absorbable staples. Visitors may comment, share photos and sign a national petition. Placing metal skin staples to close incisions is fast, but is traumatic to the patient. Every single metal skin staple pierces and punctures the outside of the skin in two places which can result in increased pain, anxiety, and the potential of ‘railroad track scars.’ Traumatic metal skin staples require removal which adds cost, inconvenience and can be painful. Absorbable suture and absorbable staples are comprised of bioabsorbable materials and are placed entirely underneath the skin, dissolving in the body within a matter of months. For example, Caesarean section patients typically remark that absorbable suture and absorbable staples are more comfortable and cosmetic than metal staples, and eliminate the need for post-operative removal. Placing absorbable sutures is more time-consuming, but absorbable stapling is as fast as metal skin stapling for surgery.

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“As stated in the Universal Patients’ Bill of Rights, patients must have full access to and fully participate in their healthcare decisions, including the choice of skin closure methods,” said John L. Shannon, Jr., president and chief executive officer of Incisive Surgical. “We estimate that over 10,000,000 metal skin staplers are used in the United States each year. Many patients view traumatic metal skin staples that pierce and puncture the skin as ‘barbaric.’ and tell their health care providers that they ‘hate metal skin staples.’ In addition, traumatic metal skin staples require removal which is costly, inconvenient and can be painful. The primary advantage of metal skin staples is speed of closure reducing anesthesia and operating room time compared to absorbable suturing. With the introduction of the INSORB Absorbable Skin Stapler in 2005, there is now a rapid closure technology that does not create additional injury to the patient. Although there are some circumstances when metal skin staples may be clinically justifiable, we believe any skin closure method that pierces and punctures the skin literally creating additional injury is obsolete for the closure of routine surgical incisions. Furthermore, in the more patient-centric 21st century environment, the use of traumatic metal skin staples, without first informing the patient of clinically-effective alternatives and gaining patient consent, is a clear violation of the Universal Patient’s Bill of Rights.”

“We measure the success of our practice by the satisfaction of our patients and our commitment to continually improve and evolve,” said K. Anthony Shibley, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists, P.A., Edina, MN. (www.obgynpa.com) “Given the improved skin closure technologies available today, I can no longer justify the use of metal skin staples for typical skin closure of surgical incisions. Metal skin staples do cause additional injury and discomfort to the patient, and require removal. My patients prefer absorbable skin closure methods that do not cause additional injury citing increased comfort and appearance.”

“Our objectives in launching this national campaign with the new ihatemetalskinstaples.com website are to 1) educate patients of their rights to be fully informed and to actively participate in their healthcare decisions, and 2) to inform patients that there are now two alternatives to traumatic metal skin staples for skin closure absorbable sutures and rapid absorbable staples,” said Shannon. “We invite visitors to the website to share their comments and photos of their incisions.”

The INSORB Absorbable Skin Stapler places an absorbable staple entirely underneath the skin to close surgical incisions offering the speed of metal skin staplers with the comfort, convenience and cosmetic result of absorbable sutures. This patented device won the prestigious 2006 Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation of the Year Award. Incisive Surgical is the only company in the world that offers this technology and has sold over 700,000 INSORB® Skin Staplers. For more information, visit www.insorb.com.

SOURCE Incisive Surgical, Inc.