The use of cyanoacrylates for wound closure in head and neck surgery

The purpose of this study was to compare the mean duration and complication rates of cyanoacrylate application in head and neck incision closures to those performed with conventional sutures. Eighty patients who underwent head and neck surgical operations (20 thyroidectomies, 13 submandibular gland resections, 9 parotidectomies, 6 neck dissections in conjunction with other surgical procedures, 1 lateral rhinotomy, 1 thyroglossal cyst resection and 30 open neck biopsies) were included in the study. The incisions were closed either with interrupted suture technique (32 patients) or cyanoacrylate (48 patients). The duration of skin closure time was compared between the two groups with nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test and a P value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. The patients were followed up for complications at 2 weeks, 1 and 3 months after surgery. The two treatment groups were similar with respect to age, gender, and wound lengths (P = 0.27, 0.22 and 0.99, respectively). The mean wound length was 7.21 + 3.15 cm in the cyanoacrylate group and 7.22 + 2.99 cm in the suture group within a range of 5-15 cm. The mean closure time was 33.69 + 9.77 s in the cyanoacrylate group and 504.38 + 169.27 s in the suture group (P < 0.001). The patients in the cyanoacrylate group were satisfied with their scar appearances. No complication was observed in both the groups. Cyanoacrylates provide an easy and convenient application resulting in a faster wound closure as compared to the interrupted suture technique. © 2007 Springer-Verlag.