PowerPoint Presentation


Pilot study assessing the efficacy of a novel topical 
adhesive for dermatologic excisional wound closure 

Ryan M. Svoboda, MD MS1, Joshua D. Zuckerman, MD2, Darrell S. Rigel, MD MS3* 

Background 

Objective       

Methods 

Results 

Limitations 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Conclusions 

1National Society for Cutaneous Medicine, New York, NY 2Schweiger Dermatology, New York, NY 3Ronald O. Perelman Dept. of Dermatology, NYU Medical Center, New York, NY 
 
 

• The topical adhesive, 2-octyl cyanoacrylate, has been 
used as an alternative to suture or staple closure of the 
skin in a variety of procedures 

• While the use of adhesive carries potential benefits in 
terms of ease of application, prior reports of allergic 
contact dermatitis and burns from exothermic reactions 
have presented a potential barrier to usage  

• To investigate the feasibility of using a novel formulation 
of 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (Actabond-Bergen Medical 
Products, Inc., Morris Plains, NJ) for skin closure after 
surgical excision of cutaneous lesions  

*1 patient lost to follow-up 
**< 1mm skin edge separation, treated 
conservatively 

• The results of office-based cutaneous surgical excisions 
using a novel formulation of 2-octyl cyanoacrylate for 
skin closure were examined in 9 consecutive patients 
(10 lesions) 

• Surgical sites were photographed: 
• Pre-operatively 
• Intraoperatively (open wound, prior to adhesive 

application, following adhesive application) 
• Two-weeks post-operatively 

• At follow-up, patient satisfaction was assessed and all 
incisions were examined for: 

• Cosmetic result 
• Signs of infection  

• Small sample size in this 
pilot series 

• No comparison group 
• One patient treated with 

adhesive was lost to follow-
up 

• A novel formulation of 2-octyl cyanoacrylate appears to be a 
feasible alternative to the use of sutures for skin closure following 
in-office dermatologic excision 

• Although allergic exothermic reactions were of concern with prior 
formulations of 2-octyl cyanoacrylate, none were noted in this 
pilot series 

• Larger studies are needed to determine potential advantages of 
this closure method 

 *Disclosures: This study was financially supported in part by a grant from Bergen Medical Products, Inc.