Microsurgical techniques and the use of tissue adhesive in the repair of peripheral nerves

Abstract In repairing the ischiadic nerve in guinea pigs by adaptation of the nerve ends according to their funicular pattern under the operating microscope and by external application of N -butyl-cyanoacrylate, operating time is shortened by 50% as compared to conventional microsurgical repair. The adhesive causes marked inflammatory response and depresses somewhat the return of myoelectric activity at 6 wk postoperatively, but at 8 wk the functional results are practically the same in both groups.