Tissue Adhesive for Wound Closure

A new clear tissue adhesive enables surgeons to close wounds and incisions with a single-application product and offers some advantages over existing closure options, such as sutures and staples.

The topical skin adhesive is indicated for the closure of skin incisions and other trauma-induced lacerations, including those resulting from laparoscopic procedures, which are most often now closed with sutures. Usage is indicated for incisions or lacerations in areas of low skin tension that are simple, thoroughly cleansed, and have easily approximated skin edges. The adhesive gradually sheds from the wound in seven to 10 days and may be used in conjunction with deep dermal stitches but may not replace them. Because the applicator tip need not come into direct contact with the wound surface, the potential to disrupt wound edges during use is reduced.

In a study of 1,092 patients and 2,304 wounds, those wounds closed with the adhesive, called Indermil, showed excellent cosmetic results, compared to the control group wounds, closed with sutures and staples. Indermil has been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The adhesive is being exclusively distributed by USS/DG division of United States Surgical (Norwalk, CT, USA), a division of Tyco Healthcare Group. Indermil was developed and is manufactured by Henkel Loctite Corp. (Dusseldorf, Germany).

"Surgeons have been waiting for a faster-setting and easier-to-apply topical skin adhesive,” said Philip E. Donahue, M.D., professor of surgery, University of Illinois, and principal investigator for the clinical trial.




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