Retrospective analysis of sutureless skin closure in cleft lip repair.

The technique of approximating tissues resulting in minimal amount of scar usually requires skillful suturing techniques by the surgeons, especially in cleft lip repair. Increased awareness and demand for aesthetic surgical correction with quality in tissue closure has led to the invention of new materials and techniques. Amcrylate (iso amyl 2-cyanoacrylate) is retrospectively evaluated as tissue glue in cleft lip repair, and the results are compared with skin closure by 6-0 Prolene. A retrospective analysis of 60 patients with unilateral or bilateral cleft lip repair was carried out to compare the results of skin closure with Amcrylate and 6-0 Prolene. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, each group containing 30, and the study was designed to evaluate the quality of scars after the use of Amcrylate tissue adhesive to close the skin during cleft lip repair and its advantages over sutures (6-0 Prolene). Both groups were analyzed for the time taken for skin closure, resultant scar, parental satisfaction, and complications, and the results were found to be statistically significant for the Amcrylate group. Amcrylate, when used as tissue glue for skin closure in cleft lip repair, definitely has an edge over conventional suturing techniques.