Tissue Adhesives in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Two types of tissue adhesives have been widely used in plastic and reconstructive surgery: the acrylate adhesives and fibrin sealant. Most reports describe the external application of the acrylate adhesives, while reports for fibrin sealant have described internal adhesive applications. Closure of the suture line using cyanoacrylate has also been reported in a group of 100 facial-aesthetic surgery patients having a total of 225 wounds. Cyanoacrylate has also been used to close skin incisions in groin wounds. Several types of clinical usages will be described in this report: attachment of skin grafts, closure of wounds, fixation of tissue flaps, securing of subcutaneous implants, control of tissue adhesions, and anastomosis of vessels. Securing skin grafts with fibrin glue continues to be refined. A recent report described the use of autologous fibrin glue to secure the skin grafts on eleven bum patients. Fibrin glue has also been used to facilitate the handling of cultured skin.