Electrophysiological comparison of peripheral nerve repair methods: An animal study

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to increase the experience with N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate in peripheral nerve anastomosis, to compare this group with primary suture, cyanoacrylate and control groups and to present our results and experience.MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the study, 49 adult male Sprague Dawley species rats were used, in the years 2004 and 2005. The study was planned as 4 groups; control group (n=10), suture group (n=12), cyanoacrylate group (n=14) and N-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate group (n=13). The right sciatic nerves of the rats were operated under general anesthesia in all groups. To measure the nerve conduction velocity (NCV), electrical stimulations were given by a stimulator using electrodes which were placed to the proximal end of the sciatic nerves and then the nerve conduction speeds were calculated by using a computer program.RESULTS: In the control group NCV was 58.6 +/- 0.7 m/s at the beginning and 55 +/- 1.3 m/s three months after the procedure and there was no statistically significant difference between them (p > 0.05). In the suture group, NCV at the beginning of the experiments was 57.1 +/- 0 6 m/s and., after three months, it was found to be 36.2 +/- 0.6 m/s (p < 0.01). In the cyanoacrylate group, the NCV before and three months after the experiments were 58.4 +/- 0.4 m/s and 44.7 +/- 1.1 m/s, respectively (p < 0.01). The NCV in the N-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate group was 58.5 +/- 0.4 m/s at the beginning and, after three months, it was found 47.4 +/- 1.2 m/s (p < 0.01).CONCLUSIONS: Our results support that, in the peripheral nerve repair, it is possible to get better electrophysiologic results by using N-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate and cyanoacrylate compared to the traditional microsuture technique.