Case Report
Cyanoacrylate glue burn in a child – lessons to be learned

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjps.2011.03.009Get rights and content

Summary

Cyanoacrylate is the generic name for cyanoacrylate based ‘fast-acting’ adhesives such as methyl-2-cyanoacrylate and ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate(commonly sold under trade names like Super Glue and Krazy Glue).1 Other forms have been developed as medical grade glues to be non-toxic and less irritating to skin tissue.

Cyanoacrylate has a multitude of uses, ranging from simple domestic applications, to those for industrial purposes.2 It is an acrylic resin which rapidly polymerises in the presence of water (specificallyhydroxide ions), forming long, strong chains, joining the bonded surfaces together. Cyanoacrylate sets quickly, often in less than a minute and a normal bond reaches full strength in two hours and is waterproof.1

This case report outlines an interesting case of a full thickness burn resulting from skin in contact with cyanoacrylate glue, including highlighting several areas where the management was not appropriate. This was likely due to the novel presentation of this patient, and lack of education of staff. Although there have been cases of burns resulting from this type of glue documented in the literature, there are none of this exact nature and depth.

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Polymerization of methyl-2-cyanoacrylate.3

Section snippets

Case report

The focus of this report is a two year old male. The father of the child had been using a cyanoacrylate based glue for household work that day and left it unattended. An image of the glue can be seen in Figure 1. Later that evening, both parents heard the child crying and discovered that he had applied the glue to his right lower leg. The boy was also wearing pyjamas and these had now become firmly adherent to the area.

The family attended the Emergency Department where the pyjama bottoms were

Discussion

In this case the cotton pyjamas should not have been removed with such haste. Although the thermal injury from the glue had likely already damaged the epidermis and superficial dermis, the quick removal would undoubtedly have been extremely painful for the child. With more education staff would have known not to do this, but to use alternative methods. Documented ways include the following basic steps:

  • 1.

    Soak the skin in warm soapy water as soon as possible. This will aim to soften the glue, and

Funding

None.

Conflict of interest

None.

References (7)

  • Cyanoacrylate. Available online at:...
  • Edward M. Petrie

    Handbook of adhesives and sealants

    (2000)
  • ...
There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

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    Although acute reactions can occur, for example in the eyes, from the cyanoacrylate laced dust that arises when filing acrylic nails, chronic and prolonged exposure of cyanoacrylates has been reported to cause asthma in some patients [9,10]. Furthermore, cyanoacrylates produce heat during curing and in rare cases, the heat produced by a fair amount of glue can cause deep burn wounds [11]. The effects and complications of chronic, voluntary, repeated use of industrial Caynoacrylate-based adhesives has not been published, to our knowledge.

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