Application of N-Butyl Cyanoacrylate to Split-Thickness Skin Grafts in Rats: An Experimental Study

Skin grafts are a standard option for closing skin defects that cannot be closed primarily. A split -thickness skin graft entirely transfers the epidermis and a part of the dermal layer to the wound site. Using conventional techniques, the skin graft is fixed to the wound using sutures and kept closed for 3 to 7 days with a pressed bolster dressing. Continued care includes applying routine graft dressings after the bolster dressing has been removed. The use of fibrin glue and cyanoacrylate derivatives-which shortens the duration of surgery and improves graft fixation to the recipient bed-has become widespread. However, applying fibrin glue during skin graft surgery is limited because there are considerable disadvantages in terms of preparation and cost. Many studies have been conducted on the use of cyanoacrylate derivatives during skin grafting; however, few reports have investigated the effects of cyanoacrylate derivatives on skin graft survival and related histopathologic changes.In this study, the authors used n-butyl cyanoacrylate to prepare split-thickness skin grafts that were subsequently applied to Wistar albino rats, and the authors evaluated the results both histopathologically and macroscopically. The authors also statistically analyzed the effects of graft fixation according to surgical duration. The findings of authors suggest that n-butyl cyanoacrylate can be safely applied during split-thickness skin graft surgery because it significantly reduces surgical duration, demonstrates substantial advantages in terms of graft fixation and monitoring, and, most importantly, demonstrates no notable disadvantages in comparison with conventional methods.