Comparative Analysis of Taper Point and Reverse Cutting Needles on Skin Puncture Force

Abstract

BACKGROUND Reverse cutting needles are commonly used in cutaneous surgery due to their perceived ease of use. Despite this, there is limited research evaluating the force required to puncture skin using contemporary needles. OBJECTIVE This study aims to compare the puncture forces required for two different needle geometries across various gauge sizes. MATERIALS AND METHODS The authors assessed the force necessary to penetrate samples of human abdominal skin samples using taper needles of three different United States Pharmacopeia gauge sizes with their respective reverse cutting needle counterparts. Taper point needles tested were RB-1 (3-0), TF (4-0), and C-1 (5-0), while reverse cutting needles included PS-2 (3-0) and P-3 (4-0, 5-0). An electronic force meter was used to record the puncture force required by each needle type. RESULTS The mean puncture force in newtons (N) for taper point needles was 1.00, 0.74, and 0.48 for RB-1, TF, and C-1, respectively. The mean puncture force for reverse cutting needles was 0.95 N, 0.60 N, and 0.51 N for PS-2, P-3 (4-0), and P-3 (5-0), respectively. There was a direct relationship between needle body diameter and puncture force for both needle geometries. CONCLUSION There was no clinically significant difference in skin puncture force between needle geometries.