The optimal application of surgical adhesive tape strips.

BACKGROUND: Surgical adhesive tape strips are often used in the early postoperative period after sutures are removed or are used in place of superficial sutures. There have not been any previous studies demonstrating their optimal application.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the optimal application pattern for adhesive strips.

METHODS: Twelve subjects had adhesive strips applied to their forearms in four different patterns and the adherence over time was measured.

RESULTS: The parallel, nonoverlapping pattern with complete coating of the skin surface with mastisol had the highest degree of adherence.

CONCLUSION: Failure to coat the entire skin surface with adjunctive adhesive, overlapping of tape strips, and use of tacking strips are all detrimental to strip adherence and should be avoided in clinical practice.