Dermabond Prineo: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Dermabond Prineo (Ethicon Inc., US) is a combination of a skin adhesive applied over a polyester mesh to reinforce and share tension equally over the surgical wound with the aim of reducing closure time and improving wound healing. The aims of this systematic review were to assess published data on Dermabond Prineo regarding infection rates, delayed wound healing, cosmetic appearance and application time compared to conventional wound closure techniques across multiple surgical procedures.

A literature search was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. The primary outcome was the incidence of wound infection after Dermabond Prineo compared to controls, namely traditional methods of wound closure such as staples, sutures and adhesives. Secondary outcome measures included allergic reactions and time taken for application.

A literature search using PubMed, SCOPUS and Science Direct identified 52 studies, of which 19 were eligible for qualitative synthesis and 12 for meta-analysis. The studies included reflected a broad range of applications of Dermabond Prineo for wound closure in abdominoplasty, mammoplasty and arthroplasty. Overall, all studies reporting on time taken for application found that Dermabond Prineo reduced time for wound closure. Meta-analysis identified a statistically significant reduction in wound infection rates (Dermabond Prineo 1.51%, control 2.13%; OR: 0.65 (0.46, 0.91); p=0.01) and a reduction in delayed wound healing (Dermabond Prineo 0.99%, control 1.79%; OR: 0.42 (0.18, 0.98); p=0.05). All three studies reporting on outcomes of scar cosmesis or long-term maturation attested to improved cosmetic results compared with sutures. The cost-effectiveness of Dermabond Prineo with a hypothetical model was discussed in two studies which concluded that it could achieve savings of $50-76 USD per patient, while a retrospective model found no statistically significant difference in total hospital costs or operating room time.

In this review, Dermabond Prineo showed lower wound infection rates and a reduction in delayed wound healing. Further studies are required to assess cost-effectiveness in a real-world setting.