Comparison between N-butyl cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive and Ethilon nylon sutures in extraoral maxillofacial incisions: A randomized prospective study

Surgical site infection and patient-reported outcomes in surgically treated soft tissue facial injury: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Soft tissue facial injuries (STFI) constitute a huge portion of craniofacial trauma, but the risk of surgical site infection (SSI) and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) following surgical management of STFI are unknown.

METHODS

A PRISMA-compliant search was conducted from January 1990 until March 2023, and meta-analysis was performed using R. Pooled effects of the outcomes were estimated using the DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model or generalised linear mixed model, when feasible.

RESULT

Among the 8897 screened studies, 38 were included. Twelve studies reported PROMs (n = 985), whereas 28 studies reported SSI rates (n = 10,996) following operative treatment for STFI. The pooled SSI rate (n = 28) was 3.30 % (95 % CI 1.89 %-5.71 %). Surgical and non-surgical closure did not differ significantly in SSI rate. PROs focused on scar outcomes, cosmetic outcomes, quality of life and psychological impact. Subgroup analysis showed lower SSI risk in operative repair for general facial trauma compared to primary repair, and in general facial trauma compared to other aetiologies. The pooled patient scar assessment scale, score at 6-12 months post-intervention (5 studies, n = 217) was 16.16 (95 % CI 15.34-16.97). Limited evidence is available on the effect and superiority of surgical treatment in cosmetic outcomes, quality of life and psychological impact.

CONCLUSION

Our findings emphasise the limited and unreliable evidence available on PROs following operative treatment for STFI. Future studies employing robust methodologies are needed to investigate optimal approaches for managing STFI.

Synthetic Pressure Sensitive Adhesives for Biomedical Applications

Pressure sensitive adhesives are components of everyday products found in homes, offices, industries, and hospitals. Serving the general purpose of fissure repair and object fixation, pressure sensitive adhesives indiscriminately bind surfaces, as long as contact pressure is administered at application. With that being said, the chemical and material properties of the adhesive formulation define the strength of a pressure sensitive adhesive to a particular surface. Given our increased understanding of the viscoelastic material requirements as well as the intermolecular interactions at the binding interface required for functional adhesives, pressure sensitive adhesives are now being explored for greater use. New polymer formulations impart functionality and degradability for both internal and external applications. This review highlights the structure-property relationships between polymer architecture and pressure sensitive adhesion, specifically for medicine. We discuss the rational, molecular-level design of synthetic polymers for durable, removable, and biocompatible adhesion to wet surfaces like tissue. Finally, we examine prevalent challenges in biomedical wound closure and the new, innovative strategies being employed to address them. We conclude by summarizing the progress of current research, identifying additional clinical opportunities, and discussing future prospects.

Cyanoacrylate Tissue Adhesives Compared With Sutures on Facial and Neck Wounds: A Meta-analysis

Objective

To compare the effectiveness between cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives (CTAs) and sutures for skin closure on the face and neck.

Data Sources

Embase, Medline, Scopus, Central, Web of Science.

Review Methods

Randomized controlled trials comparing CTAs versus sutures for skin closure on the face and neck were included. Primary outcomes were cosmetic outcomes. Secondary outcomes were scar depth, scar width, pain, closure time, cost, and adverse events. Subgroup analyses were performed by wound locations, type of CTAs, type of sutures, age groups, and type of wounds. Physicians and patients evaluated the cosmetic outcomes.

Results

Eighteen studies (1020 patients) were included. CTAs offered better cosmetic outcomes by Wound Registry Scale at ≤1 month (physician: mean difference [MD]: -1.50, 95% confidence interval, CI: -2.42 to -0.58). The cosmetic outcomes assessed by Visual Analog Scale were comparable at >1 to ≤3 months (physicians: standard mean difference [SMD], -0.01, 95% CI, -0.25 to 0.23, patients: SMD, -0.02, 95% CI, -0.84 to 0.79). The cosmetic outcomes by the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale favored sutures at >3 to 12 months (physician: MD 4.26, 95% CI, 2.02-6.50). Subgroup analyses revealed no differences. CTAs offered less scar depth, scar width, pain, closure time, and total cost of closure. Adverse events were similar.

Conclusion

Based on the wound healing process, the cosmetic outcomes exhibited a favorable inclination toward CTAs at <1 month while demonstrating comparable results between CTAs and sutures at >1 to ≤3 months. Subsequently, sutures exhibited superior cosmetic outcomes compared to CTAs at >3 to 12 months.

Use of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate for microvascular decompression in a Jehovah's witness patient

OBJECTIVE

We report the application of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (n-BCA) in microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery for a Jehovah's Witness patient. To our best knowledge, this is the first case wherein n-BCA has been employed as an adhesive to the offending artery.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 55-year-old female Jehovah's Witness patient was suffering from serious right hemifacial spasm. Although MVD surgery was needed, the patient resisted any curative medical treatment involving the application of whole blood products, including fibrin glue. Thus, we proposed several choices using artificial materials, including n-BCA as an adhesive, and received informed consent from the patient.

RESULT

MVD was performed on the dolichoectatic right vertebral artery and right posterior inferior cerebellar artery. The abnormal vessel response disappeared during the procedure and transposition using n-BCA of the concerned vessels was successful. The patient experienced a favorable postoperative clinical course and has been free from the spasm for a year. No abnormal findings were detected in the radiological examination during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSION

Although careful follow-up is mandatory, n-BCA is a possible alternative option in MVD surgery.

Use of cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives for wound closure in the head and neck region: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Wound closure in the head and neck region is challenging, primarily due to aesthetic concerns. Tissue adhesives have been prized for their ease of use. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of tissue adhesives as a suitable alternative to other conventional wound closure techniques, in the head and neck region.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted in line with PRISMA guidelines. Available English literature from 2009 to 2019 was reviewed from PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar. Randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials with wounds in the head and neck region were included in this study.

RESULTS

Sixteen articles were found to meet the inclusion criteria. Main outcomes assessed included the following: cosmesis, pain, swelling, bleeding, wound dehiscence, time and cost. There was significant heterogeneity in results for pain, swelling and bleeding. No significant difference was observed in wound dehiscence and long-term cosmetic outcome when tissue adhesives were compared with sutures and staples. The time taken for wound closure with tissue adhesives was faster than sutures but were conflicted when compared with staples. Cost was found to be similar.

CONCLUSION

Overall, there is a consensus that there is no long-term difference in cosmetic outcome and wound dehiscence between tissue adhesives and other wound closure techniques. Tissue adhesives have the benefit of being easy and quick to use with excellent patient satisfaction levels. We recommend tissue adhesives as a suitable alternative for wound closure in low tension areas in the head and neck region.

Surgical skin adhesive bond is safe and feasible wound closure method to reduce surgical site infection following minimally invasive colorectal cancer surgery

Purpose

Minimally invasive colorectal surgery had reduced the rate of surgical site infection. The use of surgical skin adhesive bond (2-octyl cyanoacrylate) for wound closure reduces postoperative pain and provides better cosmetic effect compared to conventional sutures or staples. But role of surgical skin adhesive bond for reducing surgical site infection is unclear. Our objective in this study was to evaluate the role of surgical skin adhesive bond in reducing surgical site infection following minimally invasive colorectal surgery.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of 492 patients treated using minimally invasive surgery for colorectal cancer at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, the Catholic University of Korea. Of these, surgical skin adhesive bond was used for wound closure in 284 cases and skin stapling in 208. The rate of surgical site infection including deep or organ/space level infections was compared between the 2 groups.

Results

The rate of superficial surgical site infection was significantly lower in the group using skin adhesive (P = 0.024), and total costs for wound care were significantly lower in the skin adhesive group (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

This study showed that surgical skin adhesive bond reduced surgical site infection and total cost for wound care following minimally invasive colorectal cancer surgery compared to conventional skin stapler technique. Surgical skin adhesive bond is a safe and feasible alternative surgical wound closure technique following minimally invasive colorectal cancer surgery.

A Prospective Randomized Trial of N-butyl-cyanoacrylate + Metacryloxysulfolane Adhesive versus Suture Alone for Grafting in Rhinoplasty: 9 year Follow-up

OBJECTIVE

Use of cyanoacrylate glue in facial plastic surgery is still controversial due to the absence of long-term follow up showing the results. Aim of our study is comparing the long-term outcomes of N-butyl-cyanoacrylate + Metacryloxysulfolane versus traditional sutures in rhinoplasty.

METHODS

Prospective comparative study. One hundred forty-two patients affected by ptotic nasal tip were included and randomized in two groups. In group A, the surgeon fixed the graft by using the glue and suture and in group B by using the traditional suture only. The following data were collected and compared by statistical analysis: nasolabial angle before and after surgery, dimensions of the graft, duration time (in minutes) for graft application during the surgery, number of sutures applied to fix the graft, presence of post-surgery negative outcomes.

RESULTS

All patients statistically improved their nasolabial angle after surgery (ANOVA: P < .0001) without statistically significant differences between the two groups both at short and long follow-up (χ:P = 1 and P = .9 respectively). A statistically significant difference in graft fixation time (P < .00001) and number of sutures (t: P < .00001) used was observed between the two groups. No statistically significant difference was observed in prevalence of infection after surgery.

CONCLUSION

N-butyl-cyanoacrylate + Metacryloxysulfolane could be a valid tool to reduce the necessary number of sutures and to reduce the time required for graft fixation graft fixation with consistent results in long-term follow-up.