A Comparison of Adjuvant Techniques on Setting Time of Octyl-2-Cyanoacrylate (DERMABOND Advanced)

Octyl-2-cyanoacrylate is a topical skin adhesive (TSA) that has gained popularity over the last decade for wound and incisional wound closure. TSAs have been used with or without suture when closing lacerations or operative incisions. One brand of octyl-2-cyanoacrylate, DERMABOND, was shown to have high wound bursting strength and tensile force, large number of normal tensile loading cycles to failure, long time to failure, and short setting time. Many intraoperative methods have been used by surgical staff in an effort to reduce curing time (ie, time for the tissue adhesive to set), including waving a hand or towels over the incision or bringing the operating room lights into closer proximity to the wound. Two investigators applied the TSA to their own volar forearms and measured the time to complete dryness in the operative room. A total of 112 applications of DERMABOND was performed and recorded at 1 mm TSA thickness (n=56) and at 2 mm TSA thickness (n=56). Mean drying times from each group and subgroup were calculated and compared using student’s t test and multivariate analysis. We found that no adjuvant methods commonly used in the operating room to speed up drying times were effective. If DERMABOND is utilized for wounds and surgical closure, we recommend applying only a thin layer utilizing the small applicator for more expeditious setting times and cost-effectiveness.
Source: Techniques in Orthopaedics - Category: Orthopaedics Tags: Special Technical Articles Source Type: research