Steri-Strips for Wound Closure
Steri-Strips are effective for wound closure and offer comparable or superior outcomes to traditional sutures and staples, with faster application time, lower cost, reduced wound complications, and excellent cosmetic results, making them a preferred option for many surgical and traumatic wounds. 1, 2, 3
Evidence-Based Effectiveness
Comparison to Traditional Closure Methods
Steri-Strips demonstrate significantly faster closure times compared to sutures (5.45 minutes vs 7.53 minutes for sternotomy wounds, and significantly faster for saphenous vein harvest sites), reducing operative time without compromising wound integrity 4, 3
Material costs favor Steri-Strips dramatically: approximately $3 USD per operation versus $26 USD for skin staplers, making them highly cost-effective 2
Wound healing outcomes are superior with Steri-Strips compared to subcuticular sutures, showing significantly less erythema, edema, and improved cosmesis in saphenous vein harvest sites 3
Infection rates are comparable or better with Steri-Strips—no deep or superficial infections occurred in a 76-patient TKA series, and only one wound infection (4%) was observed in pediatric laparoscopic surgery 2, 5
Cosmetic and Patient Satisfaction Outcomes
Cosmetic evaluation favors Steri-Strips over tissue adhesives (Dermabond), with blinded surgeon assessment showing significantly better cosmetic scores at 90-day follow-up (p < 0.05) 5
Patient comfort is improved: only 14% of Steri-Strip patients reported pain scores ≥6 on postoperative day one, compared to 30% with traditional sutures (p=0.07) 4
Scar hypertrophy outcomes are excellent with Steri-Strips, showing significantly better results at 6 months compared to tissue adhesives 6
Clinical Application Guidelines
Duration of Application
Facial wounds require 5-7 days of Steri-Strip application due to excellent blood supply and rapid healing 1
Body wounds (trunk, arms, legs) require 10-14 days, with high-tension areas needing the full 14-day duration 1
Premature removal risks wound dehiscence due to inadequate tensile strength development, while prolonged application increases risk of adhesive dermatitis 1
Post-Application Care Protocol
Keep wounds completely dry for 24-48 hours to allow proper adhesion and initial healing 1
Brief showers are acceptable after 24 hours if the area can be kept dry, but avoid submerging the wound 1
Do not apply ointments, creams, or lotions over or near Steri-Strips as these loosen the adhesive 1
Daily Monitoring Requirements
Check daily for infection signs: increasing pain, redness, swelling, warmth, or discharge 1
Monitor for wound dehiscence (edges separating), though this is rare with proper application 1
Pain disproportionate to injury severity indicates deeper complications requiring immediate evaluation 1
Important Clinical Considerations
When Steri-Strips May Not Be Optimal
Adding Steri-Strips to buried dermal sutures provides no additional benefit: a prospective study showed no significant difference in cosmetic outcomes (patient assessment scores 14.0 vs 14.7, p=0.39) or scar width (both 1.1mm, p=0.89) when Steri-Strips were added to subcuticular sutures 7
High-tension wounds may require suture support: while Steri-Strips alone are effective for many wounds, areas under significant tension benefit from subcuticular sutures that retain 50-75% tensile strength after one week 7
Advantages Over Alternative Methods
No removal procedure required unlike staples or non-absorbable sutures, improving patient comfort and reducing clinic visits 2
Earlier showering permitted: patients with Steri-Strips can shower significantly sooner than those with staples (p=0.0496) 2
Lower blister formation compared to some methods, though 13 of 38 knees developed blisters in one TKA series (versus 5 with staples) 2
Practical Management Tips
If Steri-Strips begin peeling at edges but center remains adherent, trim loose edges with clean scissors rather than removing the entire strip 1
Steri-Strip detachment during the postoperative period (occurred in 3 of 38 knees in one series) does not necessarily lead to dehiscence if wound edges remain approximated 2
Warning Signs Requiring Immediate Attention
Fever, chills, or red streaks extending from the wound indicate possible systemic infection 1
Pus, cloudy drainage, or foul odor from the wound requires urgent evaluation 1
Wound edges separating or opening despite Steri-Strips in place 1
Increasing pain after the first 2-3 days suggests complications rather than normal healing 1