[Use of fibrin glue for covering microsurgical autotransplants with free split skin]

An experimental study on 90 Wistar rats has been carried out. A split skin transplant about 2.25 cm(2) in size was taken from the back of the animal with scalpel and fixed on the neck's muscles with: 1) 8 sutures; 2) pressure dressing of "Pelot" type; 3) 0.2 ml of "Tissukol" fibrin glue. There were no complications. Complete skin retention was achieved in all the cases. Histological study demonstrated acceleration of reparative processes and decreased inflammation in autotransplant and muscular bed due to improvement of revascularization, a decrease of fibrous transformation of the skin graft and muscular tissue when fibrin glue (to a greater extent) and pressure dressing (to a lesser extent) were used for fixation of skin graft. But it is preferable to use fibrin glue due to acceleration of complete skin retention compared with pressure dressing of "Pelot" type.