Q:
What is the difference between using staples to close a cut rather than stitches. Do they have pros and cons?
Greg T. – Atlanta GA
A:
The biggest advantage to staples is that they are very fast. Once a wound has been cleaned and anesthetized, I can staple a typical laceration closed in less than one minute. However, there are several situations where I prefer sutures. If you have a complex, jagged laceration, sutures can help bring that wound together in a more anatomic way. Sutures tend to leave a smaller scar, with tiny little holes on the sides of a laceration, where staples leave the more typical “railroad tracks.” With sutures, you can get wound edges very close and provide an excellent result. I never use staples on the face.
Every doc I know uses staples on scalp cuts, which are very common. You can put in staples with minimal hair removal which patients appreciate. Sutures are a pain to put in without shaving the area around the cut.
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Would you add information on Medical super glue as well? As a Rugby player, I have had all 3!
Thanks!
Interesting information. Is it true you can’t buy Dermabond without a perscription?
I have never seen Dermabond for sale in a drugstore. As for medical super glue, I’m not quite sure what that is. I know that regular super glue doesn’t give a very good result.
I think he is referring to Dermabond. Both Dermabond and commericial superglue are cyanoacrylates. The commerical grade stuff has a 2-methyl or 2-ethyl group. Dermabond has a 2-octyl group. Because of it Dermabond takes longer to degrade.