A Comparative Study between Conventional Skin Sutures, Staples and Adhesive Skin Glue for Surgical Skin Closure

Abstract

Introduction: The final appearance of a surgical scar significantly influences the perceived success of a procedure, making the choice of skin closure method important. This study compares sutures, staples, and tissue glue in terms of application time, post-operative pain, wound complications, cosmetic outcomes, and cost-effectiveness. Methods: A two-year prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted on 90 patients undergoing elective surgeries at an Indian Medical College. Patients were assigned to receive either sutures, staples, or tissue glue for primary wound closure. Result: Staples required the least application time (mean: 53.3 seconds), followed by glue (103.9 s) and sutures (294.9 s). Glue was associated with significantly lower post-operative pain (VAS scores declining from 63.1 at 12 hours to 4.7 at day 7), better cosmetic scores (mean: 5.8, 88.9, and 96.1 at day 7, 1 month, and 5 months), and shorter hospital stays (mean: 3.47 days), all with statistical significance. Conclusion: While staples offer the fastest application, tissue glue provides superior pain control, cosmetic outcomes, and cost-effectiveness, making it a safe and efficient alternative for wound closure in elective surgeries.