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Cyanoacrylate derivatives have been used as surgical adhesives for many years. Shorter-chain derivatives (methyl- and ethyl-cyanoacrylate) have proved to be histotoxic. Longer-chain derivatives (butyl- and isobutyl-cyanoacrylate) are much less histotoxic. Many surgeons continue to use ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate (Krazy Glue) despite the availability of a less toxic derivative, butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (Histoacryl). In this study, the histotoxicity and bone graft-cartilage binding ability of Krazy Glue and Histoacryl were compared. Bone grafts harvested from the anterior wall of the maxillary sinus were placed in a subcutaneous pocket and glued to auricular cartilage in the rabbit. Krazy Glue and Histoacryl were used in opposite ears, harvesting specimens at 1, 2, 4, 12, 24, and 48 weeks. The Krazy Glue-treated ears developed seromas with histologic evidence of acute inflammation, tissue necrosis, and chronic foreign body giant cell reaction. The Histoacryl-treated ears showed mild acute inflammation and mild foreign body giant cell reaction. The Krazy Glue was completely degraded within 12 months, while some Histoacryl was still present at 1 year. Histoacryl had minimal histotoxic effect and good bone graft-cartilage binding ability, whereas Krazy Glue demonstrated severe histotoxicity.

Octyl-2-cyanoacrylate is a long carbon chain cyanoacrylate derivative that is stronger and more pliable than its shorter chain derivatives. One hundred and eleven patients underwent elective surgical procedures by the same surgeon using either octyl-2-cyanoacrylate or sutures for skin closure at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Most patients underwent excision of benign skin lesions with a mean wound size of 112 mm3. Patients were randomized into either control (vertical mattress suture closure) or test groups (closure with octyl-2-cyanoacrylate). Surgical judgment was used to determine which wounds in each group required application of subcutaneous sutures to relieve tension and aid in skin edge eversion. Generally, full-thickness (through dermis) wounds larger than 1 cm3 required the use of subcutaneous sutures. The time required to close the epidermis with suture (mean, 3 minutes and 47 seconds) was about four times that of octyl-2-cyanoacrylate (mean, 55 seconds). Wounds were evaluated at 5 to 7 days for infection, wound dehiscence, or tissue reaction, and at 90 days using the modified Hollander wound evaluation scale. At 1 year, photographs of the wounds were evaluated by two facial plastic surgeons that graded the cosmetic outcome using a previously validated visual analog scale. There were no instances of wound dehiscence, hematoma, or infection in either group. Results of wound evaluation at 90 days determined by the modified Hollander scal revealed equivalent cosmetic results in both groups. Results of the visual analog scale ratings showed scores of 21.7 +/- 16.3 for the 49 patients treated with octyl-2-cyanoacrylate and 29.2 +/- 17.7 for the 51 control patients treated with sutures. The lower visual analog scale score represented a superior cosmetic outcome at 1 year with the octyl-2-cyanoacrylate as compared with sutures. This difference is statistically significant at p = 0.03. Additionally, patient satisfaction was very high in the group treated with octyl-2-cyanoacrylate.

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