Ethyl-cyanoacrylate is acutely nontoxic and provides sufficient bond strength for anastomosis of peripheral nerves.
Anastomosis is a common technique for the union of severed nerve trunks. This is commonly performed with sutures, a process that can be both time consuming and injurious to tissue. One promising alternative to suturing is the use of adhesives to join the severed segments. Cyanoacrylate-based glues have been used clinically as a surgical adhesive for soft tissues. However, the acute effects of these glues on nerve electrophysiology and the tensile strength of the rejoined tissues have not been evaluated. Using a guinea pig model, we analyzed the mechanical properties of transected sciatic nerves repaired with epineural application of ethyl-cyanoacrylate and the short term consequences of cyanoacrylate application on impulse conduction. Results showed that nerves coapted with ethyl-cyanoacrylate were capable of bearing in vivo forces. Additionally, no acute effects on conduction were observed in uninjured sciatic nerves exposed to ethyl-cyanoacrylate. In conjunction with long term in vivo reports from literature, the current results support the use of cyanoacrylates in nerve repair.
Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
Todd
T
Rickett
Jianming
J
Li
Meenal
M
Patel
Wenjing
W
Sun
Gary
G
Leung
Riyi
R
Shi
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D003487:Cyanoacrylates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008422:Materials Testing; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000601:surgery*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000737:chemistry*
D003487:Cyanoacrylates; D014014:Tissue Adhesives; C029054:ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate