• William T Zempsky, David Parrotti, Christine Grem, and Jennifer Nichols.
• Department of Pediatrics, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Hartford, CT 06106, USA. Wzempsk@ccmckids.org
• Pediatr Emerg Care. 2004 Aug 1;20(8):519-24.

ObjectiveTo compare the short-term complications and long-term cosmetic outcomes of simple facial lacerations closed with 3M Steri Strip Skin Closures or Dermabond.MethodsProspective, randomized controlled trial of children ages 1 to 18 presenting to a pediatric emergency department with simple low-tension lacerations of the face. After standard wound care, patients received wound closure with either Steri Strip Skin Closure or Dermabond. Pain associated with closure was evaluated on a 100-mm visual analogue scale (0 = no pain, 100 = worst pain). A follow-up telephone call was made a week after enrollment to determine short-term complications. Patients returned 2 months after would closure for wound photography. Cosmetic outcomes were evaluated by 2 plastic surgeons blinded to the method of wound closure on a 100-mm visual analogue scale (0 = best scar, 100 = worst scar).ResultsOne hundred children aged 1 to 18 were enrolled. Ninety-seven patients had results analyzed. Forty-eight received Steri Strip Skin Closures and 49 received Dermabond. Patient demographics and wound characteristics were similar between groups. Pain scores on a 100-mm visual analogue scale were 9.0 mm for the Steri Strip group and 6.2 mm for the Dermabond group (P = ns). At short-term follow-up, there was one wound complication in the Steri Strip group and 7 complications in the Dermabond group (P = 0.06). Eighty-nine patients received 2-month evaluation (41 Steri Strip, 45 Dermabond). There was no difference in the mean visual analogue scale cosmesis scores: 37.2 mm (95% CI = 30.8-43.7) versus 43.8 mm (95% CI = 38.4-49.2) (P = 0.12).ConclusionsSteri Strip Skin Closures and Dermabond provide similar cosmetic outcomes for closure of simple facial lacerations. Steri Strip Skin Closure may represent a low-cost alternative for closure of simple facial lacerations.

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