Wound Closure Materials in the New Millennium

TOPICS IN DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY

Wound Closure Materials in the New Millennium

Jun
2002
Vol. 21. No. 2
Gregg M Menaker, MD

MODERN DERMATOLOGIC SURGEONS often take wound closure materials for granted. On the eve of a new millennium, today’s surgeons can specifically tailor their choice of a wound closure material to the clinical situation at hand. Since the ancient Egyptians began using linen to close wounds, we have continued searching for the ideal wound closure material. Until roughly 20 years ago, surgeons had only to choose between cat gut and silk to select a wound closure material. In the 1970s, several synthetic materials were developed that provided surgeons with the opportunity to use a wound closure material specifically tailored to the needs of the patient. Recent developments in synthetic polymer technology have provided surgeons with tissue glue that has impressive tensile strength and ease of use.

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