DermabondTM Tissue Adhesive Versus Steri-StripsTM in Unilateral Cleft Lip Repair: An Audit of Infection and Hypertrophic Scar Rates

• Published in: The Cleft palate-craniofacial journal Vol. 45; no. 6; pp. 614 - 619
• Main Authors: Wilson, Andrew D. H., Mercer, Nigel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-11-2008
• Subjects: infection; hypertrophic scar; Dermabond; Steri-Strips; cleft lip repair
• ISSN: 1055-6656; 1545-1569
• DOI: 10.1597/07-072.1

Objective:
The purpose of this study was to compare the infection and hypertrophic scar rates in unilateral cleft lip repairs, having had Steri-Strips or Dermabond tissue glue applied across the repair as the final stage.
Design:
Retrospective study over 13 years of 307 unilateral cleft lip repairs by a single surgeon. The application of either Steri-Strips from 1992 to 1998 (121 patients) or Dermabond tissue adhesive from 1998 to 2006 (186 patients) was used in the final stage of the repair.
Setting:
Regional Centre for Cleft Lip and Palate Care, South West of England.
Participants:
307 consecutive unilateral cleft lip patients seen from 1992 to 2006.
Main Outcome Measures and Results:
There were five (4%) infections in the Steri-Strip group. All infections were with Staphylococcus aureus. No infections occurred in the Dermabond group (p < .001). There were 15 (12%) hypertrophic scars in the Steri-Strip group and 33 (18%) hypertrophic scars in the Dermabond group (p  =  .142). Revision surgery was required in a total of seven (6%) patients in the Steri-Strip group. No revisions were required in the Dermabond group (p. 1).
Conclusion:
We found a lower infection and revision rate and a similar hypertrophic scar rate when Dermabond was used instead of Steri-Strips in the final stage of unilateral cleft lip repair and suggest this study further supports the use of octyl-2-cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive in unilateral cleft lip repair.