The use of sterile adhesive tape in the closure of arthroscopic puncture wounds: a comparison with a single layer nylon closure.

A prospective trial was undertaken comparing the wound healing and infection rates in arthroscopic arthrotomy wounds closed by sterile adhesive tapes on interrupted Nylon skin sutures. Two hundred and thirty consecutive arthroscopic procedures had arthrotomy wounds closed by a single layer skin closure of either interrupted Nylon (n = 62) or sterile adhesive tapes (n = 168). All wounds healed by primary intention. Only one wound developed a superficial infection around a Nylon suture and no patient developed a synovial herniation. It is concluded that closure of arthroscopic puncture wounds with sterile adhesive tape is effective and convenient for wound management.