Leukotape for closing a wound?

Steristrips are so light/compact and easy to carry. I feel like they have a solid place in my kit even though I carry LT too.

As a surgeon in real life, I have closed some fairly extensive facial lacerations in the field with steristrips and then leukotape over them. Very cosmetic results.  Using just leukotape would be hard because you cannot see the approximation of the laceration edges under it. And, larger, wider lacertations that do best with layered closures not possible without sutures and local anesthesia will not often stay closed with just steristrips. Leave the leukotape on for at least 7-10 days, the leukotape will often remove the steritape when it comes off.   Using the two is a nice field combination.

Though I haven’t had to try it my working assumption is yes.  My idea is to cut a narrow strip between 2 tabs (roughly same as a butterfly bandage and twist that 1-2 times such that it doesn’t adhere strongly over the wound.

I I do need to make sure my mini scissors are functional prior to a hike.

I have always found butterfly closures to be very effective. They let me see the wound while I am working. To be sure, something over the top is then needed, if only to keep the dirt out.

Cheers
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steristrips and then leukotape over them. … Using the two is a nice field combination.

That makes sense to me. Any time I have attempted to use steristrips/butterflies they have not held.

Arthur, what’s your take on using crazy glue (or the medical version of it)?

Wound care is a career in itself. Punctures, burns, poor circulation areas, critical areas like eye lids, keloids, etc., etc. Ryan has said that burns are one of the most common injuries in backpacking.   This is an oversimplification of a complex topic that is from my fortunately limited experience in the field. I am not an field expert.  And you might be getting the drift that my first aid bag is not light when with a group.

Sorry for the long story, but it illustrates a good point. Wounds have been healing quite nicely for a million years on their own if kept clean.  As a young resident on plastic surgery rotation, a patient went thru the windshield with brain injuries and massive facial cuts, some with loss of tissue.  She could not tolerate an anesthetic.  The old timer staff doc told me to clean her wounds and redress them three times per day with moist dressings. In 3-4 weeks her wounds looked as good if not better than if we had repaired them.  Nature is pretty efficient.   In my experience, over the counter cyanoacrylates are good for clean, simple, non tension wounds, especially in kids who heal so quickly, but not so good in my old, leathery, sun damaged skin.    Think shallow knife cut on an area that would not be stressed during the healing.  Not like palm of hand or elbow. It works well with closing surgical wounds if the muscle and facia are closed with sutures.  The advantage of leukotape is strong support for wounds under tension. The big disadvantage is lack of visualization of the wound to catch infections.   Tegaderm, a clear bandage, solves this issue.  BTW, I use benzoin in the little glass vials for better adherence with steristrips.  If they leak, the smell will be with you forever and ever.  Steve’s twist technique is interesting in solving the adherence to the wound and steristrips as well as visualization issues.

Sorry for the slow reply. I had forgot to subscribe to this thread, but I remembered as I was rechecking my first aid kit.

Excellent responses. Thanks.

I will keep the sterri strips and LT. And I may buy box of the tegaderm bandages (4″ x 4.7″) and keep one or two in my kit.

And I’ll keep the twist method in mind just in case.

I purchased a 4” wide roll of Tegaderm a few years ago. I like the idea of carrying a strip of it and being able to cut it to shape in the field. You get a 10 yards for ~$32, iirc. Enough to share with friends!

Non-3M brands cost about 1/3 but I haven’t tried them.