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.