Are Topical Skin Adhesives an Option for Wound Closure Following Musculoskeletal Oncology Surgery? A STROCSS-compliant Observational Study

Background:2-octyl cyanoacrylate (2OCA) is a high-viscosity medical-grade tissue adhesive used routinely. However, no studies have evaluated its use in musculoskeletal oncology surgery. Methods:We enrolled 99 patients undergoing musculoskeletal oncology surgery. 2OCA was chosen for wound closure, and it was applied by a specific surgeon for all patients. Drying times for the adhesive were recorded, and photographs were obtained intra-operatively. Post-treatment follow-up constituted queries regarding pain level, and recording incisional dehiscence, wound infection, hematoma, and incisional bleeding. Data collection was performed post-operatively at 48 hours, 5–10 days, 14 days, and 30 days. Other adverse events were documented. Results:2OCA was applied to 110 incisions in 99 patients constituting 62 female patients and 37 male patients. The mean age of patients was 50.41 (±16.83) years; mean incision length was 10.24 (±5.7) cm; and the mean pain score using a visual analogue scale (VAS) was 2.37 on post-operative day 7. The mean drying time was 1.81 (±0.59) minutes; 91 (91%) patients reported excellent and superior satisfaction, and the remaining patients reported “good” (6%) and “fair” (2%) satisfaction. The percentage of dehiscence, hematoma, and keloid formation was considerably low. Conclusion:2OCA was safe in musculoskeletal oncology surgical incisions in this study. The incidence of post-operative adverse events was low. However, some patients developed a hematoma. Post-operative pain was low, and patient satisfaction was high. 2OCA can be a practical alternative to traditional suture closure for skin incisions after musculoskeletal surgery.