title: The efficacy of adhesives in the application of wound dressings.
abstract: The use of adhesive preparations to reinforce surgical tapes and to secure dressings to the skin is standard practice. BioBrane is a biosynthetic membrane for use in dressing clean, well-debrided wounds, particularly partial-thickness burns and skin graft donor sites. The close and undisturbed contact of this material with the wound surface is important during the first 2 days after its application to achieve adherence. This has prompted a study to test the relative anchoring strength of four methods of securing the dressing to the normal skin around the wound: 1/2-inch (1.27-cm) Steri-Strips only; Mastisol, a mastic compound, with and without 1/2-inch Steri-Strips; and compound tincture of benzoin, USP, in combination with 1/2-inch Steri-Strips. The results obtained with a tension of 1.1 pounds/square inch (0.5 kg/6.5 cm2) were not conclusive as to the superiority of any one method. However, with a tension of 2.2 pounds/square inch (1 kg/6.5 cm2), the combination of mastic compound and 1/2-inch Steri-Strips provided the strongest adhesion. This type of application should also prove useful when other types of surgical dressings must be anchored in place.
authors.affiliation: Mohs Micrographic Surgery Section, Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan 48202.
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Mikhail
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Selak
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salo
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Balle
mesh_terms: D000269:Adhesives; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D006801:Humans; D000069997:Mastic Resin; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012116:Resins, Plant; D032362:Styrax; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000269:Adhesives; C457659:Benzoin Gum; C042816:Biobrane; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D000069997:Mastic Resin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012116:Resins, Plant