Use of cyanoacrylate adhesives in dermal lesions: a review

Abstract

Sutures have traditionally been considered the preferred choice for the mechanical closure of tissue injuries. However, suturing implies an additional trauma to the wound. The search for a quick, painless method with good aesthetic results has prompted a number of publications and studies that have evaluated the effectiveness of synthetic tissue adhesives (cyanoacrylate adhesives) and other biological sealants (fibrin glue and others) as an alternative to standard suturing. The therapeutic applications covered by the literature on cyanoacrylate-based adhesives are most varied. This literature review seeks to show the evolution over time of the methods and results obtained by scientific research on the use of biological adhesives for dermal closure, by collecting existing data on aspects relative to cyanoacrylates and their application on dermal lesions from papers published over the past 50 years. Such a review is novel in the existing literature. In recent decades, the use of cyanoacrylate-based adhesives for the closure of dermal lesions in different surgical areas has spread thanks to the positive results reported by the vast majority of the studies. New avenues for tissue adhesive production are being explored currently. The prospects for these adhesives are positively appraised, though potential disadvantages and contraindications must be borne in mind.