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.
Rickett
Todd
T
Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
Li
Jianming
J
Patel
Meenal
M
Sun
Wenjing
W
Leung
Gary
G
Shi
Riyi
R
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