Quinn JV, Drzewiecki A, Li MM, Stiell IG, Sutcliffe T, Elmslie TJ, Wood WE, et al.
Annals of emergency medicine. Date of publication 1993 Jul 1;volume 22(7):1130-5.
1. Ann Emerg Med. 1993 Jul;22(7):1130-5.
A randomized, controlled trial comparing a tissue adhesive with suturing in the
repair of pediatric facial lacerations.
Quinn JV(1), Drzewiecki A, Li MM, Stiell IG, Sutcliffe T, Elmslie TJ, Wood WE.
Author information:
(1)Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the tissue adhesive Histoacryl Blue with suturing in
the repair of pediatric facial lacerations.
DESIGN: Prospective, randomized controlled trial.
SETTING: Emergency department of a pediatric teaching hospital.
PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-one children presenting with clean facial lacerations less
than 4 cm in length and 0.5 cm in width.
INTERVENTIONS: Patients were allocated randomly to have their lacerations
repaired with sutures or Histoacryl Blue.
RESULTS: The two groups were similar for demographic and clinical
characteristics. Photographs taken at three months were rated by two plastic
surgeons blinded to the method of closure. There was no difference between groups
for appearance scores on a visual analog scale (60.5 mm for Histoacryl Blue
versus 57.2 mm for suture, P = .45) or on a categorical scale (Histoacryl Blue
versus sutures: unacceptable, 11% versus 13%; acceptable, 59% versus 71%;
excellent, 30% versus 16%; P = .76). Measures of observer agreement produced
Pearson correlations of .72 and .94 on the visual analog scale and kappa
coefficients of .46 and .73 on the categorical scale. Histoacryl Blue was
assessed as less painful on a visual analog scale (24.7 versus 43.7 mm, P < .01)
and faster (7.9 versus 15.6 minutes, P < .001).
CONCLUSION: Histoacryl Blue is a faster and less painful method of facial
laceration repair that has cosmetic results similar to the use of sutures.
DOI: 10.1016/s0196-0644(05)80977-1
PMID: 8517562 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
