Absorbable Suture Versus Tissue Glue to Repair Defects Following Mohs Surgery

Cyanoacrylate is a rapidly polymerizing topical adhesive commonly used as an alternative to traditional sutures. Both cyanoacrylate and fast absorbing gut suture eliminate the need for suture removal which can represent a significant savings in patient and staff time as well as related healthcare resources. Both cyanoacrylate and fast absorbing gut suture are currently routinely used for epidermal closure at Yale following Mohs micrographic surgery. Physician preference currently dictates which epidermal closure method is chosen for a given surgery.

Cyanoacrylate has been reported to decrease trauma to the epidermal edges, minimize suture tract marks in surgical scars, and decrease the risk of inflammatory reaction to suture material. Cyanoacrylate, however, does not allow for wound eversion.

Wound eversion minimizes the risk of a depressed scar from tissue contraction during healing. As with all sutures, fast absorbing gut suture allows for wound eversion which is reported to maximize the likelihood of a good epidermal approximation. On the other hand, fast absorbing gut suture degrades by proteolysis which can result in an inflammatory reaction. Any inflammatory reaction on the skin while healing can affect the final cosmetic outcome (ie. post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation).

A recent article (Tierney 2009), reported that tissue adhesive may not be as effective in achieving optimal cosmesis as fast absorbing gut for defects on the trunk and extremities. However, we would like to study these two methods for the repair of facial wounds, which are in low tension areas as compared to trunk and extremities. Therefore, it is unknown exactly which of these two method is better than the other in epidermal closure of facial wounds follow Mohs micrographic surgery.

Inclusion criteria

• The subject is willing and able to give informed consent.
• The subject is willing and able to participate in the study as an outpatient and is willing to comply with study requirements.
• The subject is 18 years of age or older.
• The subject has a diagnosis of a non-melanoma skin cancer on the face requiring Mohs micrographic surgery.
• The subjects also has a final wound length of 3cm or greater.
• The subject is able to abide by the protocol of standard postoperative care and is able to attend standard post-operative visits at 3 months after the surgery.

Exclusion criteria

• The subject is on systemic immunosuppressants and/or is an organ transplant recipients.
• The subject has reported or suspected hypersensitivity to cyanoacrylate or fast absorbing gut suture.
• The subject has a dermatologic disease in the target site that may interfere with examination.