[Application of alpha-cyanoacrylate medical adhesive in fixation of intratemporal facial nerve within chitin chamber].
OBJECTIVE
To study the feasibility of alpha-cyanoacrylate medical adhesive in fixation of intratemporal facial nerve when nerve was repaired within chitin chamber, and to investigate the nerve regeneration.


METHODS
Nerve defect of 6 mm was made in left intratemporal facial nerves of 48 rabbits. All the defects were bridged with chitin chamber and were fixed by alpha-cyanoacrylate medical adhesive, surgical suture and natural union. Nerve function test and histomorphological examination were carried out at 1 month and 3 months after repair.


RESULTS
It was observed that the nerve was fixed firmly to the chamber with no crack or crease by alpha-cyanoacrylate medical adhesive. The regenerated new nerve fibers were more regular and denser and the neurological function recovered much better in the group fixed by alpha-cyanoacrylate medical adhesive than in the groups those fixed by surgical suture and natural union.


CONCLUSIONS
The medical adhesive is strong in adhesion and beneficial to nerve repair; repair of intratemporal facial nerve defect within chitin chamber fixed by alpha-cyanoacrylate medical adhesive is feasible, simple and timesaving.
Cai
Ping
P
Department of Otolaryngoogy-Head and Neck Surgery, People's Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan Hubei, P. R. China, 430060. caip@eyou.com
Liu
Gong-han
GH
Hua
Qing-quan
QQ
D000818:Animals; D002686:Chitin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003487:Cyanoacrylates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D011817:Rabbits; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000294:innervation / Q000601:surgery; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D003487:Cyanoacrylates; D014014:Tissue Adhesives; D002686:Chitin