Clinical Evaluation of Efficacy of Cyanoacrylate Glue and Conventional Polypropylene Suturing in Cutaneous Wounds-A Comparitive Study

Introduction: The benefits of assisting closure by holding the opposing edges of a wound together have been recognized in the last 5000 years. There are several well-proven techniques of skin closure using a variety of materials like braided or monofilament material, absorbable and nonabsorbable conventional suture materials, metal clips and adhesive tapes. Conventional skin suturing techniques do have certain disadvantages. From the past three decades, many new biomaterials have been discovered in the medical field. Bio-adhesives are one among them. These materials when applied on the incised tissues possess the ability to bind them together. This group of adhesives are called Cyanoacrylates. The purpose of the study was to compare the efficacy and clinical outcome of the two techniques of wound closure by using conventional polypropylene suturing and cyanoacrylate glue.

Objectives of the study: The objective of this study was to compare the pain, duration of the procedure, postoperative infection, wound dehiscence and esthetic outcome of cyanoacrylate with the polypropylene suturing in skin wounds.

Materials and method: A total number of 50 subjects, with lacerations of head and neck region in the age group of 15-40 years were included in the study. Group I: Lacerations closed using polypropylene Group II: Lacerations closed using cyanoacrylates Variables like pain, esthetic outcome, time taken, wound dehiscence, infection was taken into account.

Conclusion: In our study we noted that cyanoacrylates is an easily applied material, has good physical properties, has good wound healing characteristics, overcomes the disadvantage and discomfort of suture removal, infection, duration of closure and produces cosmesis comparable to that produced by sutures with excellent patient satisfaction. With a limited number of samples and study, we conclude that with a proper patient selection, meticulous technique and limitation to external use, Cyanoacrylate can serve as a good and reliable alternative to sutures for lacerated wounds in the minimal tension areas of the face.