Glueing of peripheral nerves with fibrin: experimental studies

Experiments were carried out on rats to compare fibrin glueing of nerves with suturing. For this purpose, the sciatic nerve was transected and the cut ends were joined, either by glueing with Tissucol or with an epineural suture. Assessment of the two methods was based on clinical and histologic examination and electrophysiologic measurement (latency and amplitude of compound action potentials). Reconstruction with fibrin glue proved to be the simpler method, requiring considerably less time than nerve suture. Separation of the glued nerve stumps did not occur in any instance. The fibrin glue was completely absorbed after a maximum interval of one week following the operation. It had no negative effect on nerve regeneration, which was the same for both groups. The histologic variability found to be characteristic of both glued and sutured nerves reflected differences in the way the nerve repair was effected, rather than in the method used. The electrophysiologic measurements did not show statistically significant differences between the two methods of nerve repair.