Cutaneous wound closure materials: an overview and update.

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Wound Healing
• Surgical Materials Science

Background:

• Dermasurgeons frequently encounter diverse wounds requiring closure.
• Selecting optimal skin closure materials balancing cosmetic results, practicality, and cost is challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review skin closure materials used in the last 20 years.
• To evaluate the scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness in wound repair.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature search using PubMed, Cochrane, Google Scholar, and Ovid.
• Inclusion of articles on skin closure materials published since 1990.
• Independent review and scrutiny of literature by two authors.

Main Results:

• A wide array of skin closure materials are available.
• Effectiveness varies based on wound characteristics and patient factors.

Conclusions:

• Wound type, location, physician expertise, and patient health influence material selection.
• Evidence-based recommendations are provided to guide surgeons in choosing appropriate skin closure materials.