Skin Glue for Wound Closure

Comparative Effectiveness

Sutures are significantly better than tissue adhesives for minimizing wound dehiscence, though skin glue offers advantages of quicker application and comparable outcomes for infection rates, patient satisfaction, and cosmetic appearance, according to the World Journal of Emergency Surgery 1
A Cochrane review of 33 studies (2793 participants) found sutures significantly better than tissue adhesives for reducing wound breakdown risk (RR 3.35; 95% CI 1.53-7.33), as reported in the World Journal of Emergency Surgery 1
For infection, patient satisfaction, and cost outcomes, there is no evidence of significant differences between sutures and tissue adhesives, as found in the World Journal of Emergency Surgery 1
The number needed to treat for an additional harmful outcome (dehiscence) with tissue adhesives versus sutures is calculated as 43, according to the World Journal of Emergency Surgery 1

Keep the wound clean and dry for the first 24-48 hours after application, as recommended by Praxis Medical Insights 2
Monitor for signs of infection such as increasing pain, redness, swelling, or discharge, as advised by Praxis Medical Insights 2
Pain disproportionate to the severity of injury may suggest deeper complications, according to Praxis Medical Insights 2

The World Health Organization and other medical guidelines suggest that applying steri-strips over dried wound glue does not cause harm or reduce effectiveness of either closure method, as noted by the World Journal of Emergency Surgery 3, 4
Tissue adhesives may be quicker to apply than sutures, making them convenient for certain wound types, according to the World Journal of Emergency Surgery 4
Sutures are significantly better than tissue adhesives alone for reducing wound breakdown risk (RR 3.35; 95% CI 1.53-7.33), suggesting that additional support from steri-strips might be beneficial in high-risk wounds, as reported by the World Journal of Emergency Surgery 4