OBJECTIVE: To study the feasibility of α-cyanoacrylate medical adhesive in fixation of intratemporal facial nerve when nerve was repaired within chitin chamber, and to investigate the nerve regeneration. METHODS: Nerve defect of 6 mm was made in left intratemporal facial nerves of 48 rabbits. All the defects were bridged with chitin chamber and were fixed by α-cyanoacrylate medical adhesive, surgical suture and natural union. Nerve function test and histomorphological examination were carried out at 1 month and 3 months after repair. RESULTS: It was observed that the nerve was fixed firmly to the chamber with no crack or crease by α-cyanoacrylate medical adhesive. The regenerated new nerve fibers were more regular and denser and the neurological function recovered much better in the group fixed by alpha-cyanoacrylate medical adhesive than in the groups those fixed by surgical suture and natural union. CONCLUSION: The medical adhesive is b in adhesion and beneficial to nerve repair; repair of intratemporal facial nerve defect within chitin chamber fixed by alpha-cyanoacrylate medical adhesive is feasible, simple and timesaving.
