title: Evaluation of a liquid dressing for minor nonbleeding abrasions and class I and II skin tears in the emergency department.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Minor abrasions and skin tears are usually treated with gauze dressings and topical antibiotics requiring frequent and messy dressing changes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We describe our experience with a low-cost, cyanoacrylate-based liquid dressing applied only once for minor abrasions and skin tears.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a single-center, prospective, noncomparative study in adult emergency department (ED) patients with minor nonbleeding skin abrasions and class I and II skin tears. After cleaning the wound and achieving hemostasis, the wounds were covered with a single layer of a cyanoacrylate liquid dressing. Patients were followed every 1-2 days until healing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We enrolled 40 patients with 50 wounds including 39 abrasions and 11 skin tears. Mean (standard deviation) age was 54.5 (21.9) years and 57.5% were male. Wounds were located on the face (n = 16), hands (n = 14), legs (n = 11), and arms (n = 9). Pain scores (0 to 10 from none to worst) after application of the liquid dressing were 0 in 62% and 1-3 in the remaining patients. Follow-up was available on 36 patients and 46 wounds. No wounds re-bled and there were no wound infections. Only one wound required an additional dressing. Median (interquartile range [IQR]) time to complete sloughing of the adhesive was 7 (5.5-8) days. Median (IQR) time to complete healing and sloughing of the overlying scab was 10 (7.4-14) days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that a single application of a low-cost cyanoacrylate-based liquid adhesive is a safe and effective treatment for superficial nonbleeding abrasions and class I and II skin tears that eliminates the need for topical antibiotics and dressings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York.
authors.forename: Adam John
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York.
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chale
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Domingo
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York.
authors.forename: Saad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghazipura
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khorasonchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York.
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bienenfeld
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003487:Cyanoacrylates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D014945:Wound Healing; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003487:Cyanoacrylates
keywords: abrasions; cyanoacrylates; dressings; liquid adhesive; skin tears