Gluesticks

Is Super Glue used by doctors to close an open wound?

If someone cuts themselves with a knife on a finger or leg, is Super Glue EVER used by a doctor to close the wound instead of the usual stitches?

Public Comments

1. Never, they have a medical tissue glue which works differently. Superglue can lead to bad irritiations and allergies.
2. It was during the war but I don't think it is a usual or every day practice.
3. It is in some cases for minor cuts. It keeps air and dirt out of the wound and helps small skin cracks or small cuts, like a paper cut, heal, and eventually the glue wears off. It can also lead to less scarring. However, it can irritate the skin so isn't used for deep cuts.
4. yes they use super glue. ive cut my thumb off before and went to UMC. they super-glued it back on. no lie, im 100% serious
5. I have a friend who was a military medic, and they'd use it in an emergency as conditions were often not particularly conducive to following normal medical procedures.
6. After reading an article about medics in Vet Nam using super glue to close wounds quickly, I tried it on myself when I cut a finger with a kitchen knife. it works if you don't have flowing blood getting into the way. In my case, where ever the cut was flowing blood, it washed the glue out and the cut wouldn't seal there. I had to stop the bleeding first in order for the glue to do it's job. So I had surgery a few years ago and asked my doctor about using super glue. he told me that there is a product that they some times use in the OR called Dermabond. The difference between that and super glue is that the Dermabond is sterile.
7. Super glue is known to use to non living item or part not on the living tissues. Another of glue is to seal the operation cuts. For the minor cuts attended by GP this is not the practice as the strong hygienic sterilized conditions are prerequisite
8. There's also a "spray band aid" that's superglue based.