To determine the effectiveness of a new tissue adhesive, 2-Octylcyanoacrylate (2-OCA), for laceration repair, 83 children presenting to T.C. Thompson Children's Hospital Emergency Department with lacerations meeting eligibility requirements between February and June 1996 were randomized to receive 2-OCA or nonabsorbable sutures/staples. The length of time for repair was recorded. The length of time for laceration repair was decreased (2.9 minutes 2-OCA vs 5.8 minutes suture/staple; p < 0.001), the parents' assessment of the pain felt by their children in the 2-OCA group was less, and the wounds closed with tissue adhesive had slightly lower cosmesis scores. 2-OCA is an acceptable alternative to conventional methods of wound repair with comparable cosmetic outcome.