Fibrin Glueing of Peripheral Nerves

Abstract

Experiments were carried out on rats to compare fibrin glueing of nerves with suturing. For this purpose, the sciatic nerves were transected and the cut ends were joined either by glueing with Tissucol or with an epineurial suture. The slower acting type of Tissucol fibrin glue was used with 100 units of aprotinin. A piece of silicone tubing cut in half lengthwise provided a useful splint for the glueing procedure; it stabilized the nerve stumps and prevented adhesion to surrounding structures. Separation of the stumps did not occur in any of the glued nerves. Histologic studies performed up to 6 months after the operation showed no appreciable difference in either healing or the outcome of nerve regeneration between glued and sutured nerves. The equivalence of the two methods was substantiated by the absence of statistically significant differences on electrophysiologic determination of the latency period and amplitude of compound action potentials. Fibrin glueing did not give superior results regarding nerve regeneration but the method is attractive for clinical purposes since it is simpler and less time-consuming than suturing.