ARE ALLERGIC REACTIONS TO SKIN CLIPS ASSOCIATED WITH DELAYED WOUND-HEALING

BACKGROUND: Metal skin clips are used in surgery. They may contain met als that might cause allergic reactions and delayed wound healing. MET HODS: The metal composition of 18 different surgical clamps was examin ed. The allergy status of 184 patients was determined by patch tests a nd was correlated with the clinical outcome of wound healing after app lication of skin clips. RESULTS: Skin clips contained chromium, nickel , molybdenum, cobalt, and titanium in concentrations high enough to ca use allergic reactions. Eighteen percent of the men and 23% of the wom en were sensitive to nickel and 16% of the men to chromium. We found a positive correlation between the grade of nickel allergy and the reac tion to the skin clips. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that allergic reactions and delayed wound healing can be caused by the use of surgic al skin clips. Therefore skin clips are not recommended for patients w ith a history of contact dermatitis to metals and/or atopy. (C) 1998 b y Excerpta Medica, Inc.