ABSTRACT
The ideal method of wound closure should be simple, rapid, inexpensive, painless, and bactericidal, and should achieve optimal cosmetic results. Tissue adhesives offer many of these characteristics. Until recently, the only commercially available tissue adhesive was 2-butylcyanoacrylate. A new tissue adhesive, 2-octylcyanoacrylate (Dermabond(R)), offers several advantages over 2-butylcyanoacrylate. It is more pliable and less brittle. To compare a new tissue adhesive, 2-octylcyanoacrylate, with standard wound closure techniques for the repair of open wound, two groups of each 20 rats were studied. Two groups were similar for demographic and clinical characteristics. Photographs taken at three months were rated by seven plastic surgeons blinded to the method of closure. There was no difference between two groups for appearance or complication. In conclusion, wound treated with Dermabond(R) and standard wound closure techniques have similar cosmetic results 3 months later, and Dermabond(R) is a faster method of wound repair that has cosmetic results similar to the use of sutures.