title: The optimal application of surgical adhesive tape strips.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgical adhesive tape strips are often used in the early postoperative period after sutures are removed or are used in place of superficial sutures. There have not been any previous studies demonstrating their optimal application.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate the optimal application pattern for adhesive strips.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve subjects had adhesive strips applied to their forearms in four different patterns and the adherence over time was measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The parallel, nonoverlapping pattern with complete coating of the skin surface with mastisol had the highest degree of adherence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Failure to coat the entire skin surface with adjunctive adhesive, overlapping of tape strips, and use of tacking strips are all detrimental to strip adherence and should be avoided in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, Section of Dermatology, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Desciak
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Maloney
mesh_terms: D000268:Adhesiveness; D001458:Bandages; D005542:Forearm; D006801:Humans; D011182:Postoperative Care; D013537:Sutures; D013997:Time Factors