Experimental study on reparation of conjunctival and skin laceration with α-cyanoacrylate

Abstract

Background The effectiveness of medical tissue adhesive for the reparation of operative incision has been recognized,but its influence to ocular surface microenvironment is not quite clear.Objective This study was to appraise the safety and efficacy of α-cyanoacrylate,a medical issue adhesive,for the reparation of the conjunctival and skin laceration.Methods Twenty healthy New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into suturing group and medical glue group.Routine ophthalmic examination,the level of tear secretion and breakup time of tear film (BUT) were tested before operation.The upper bulbar conjunctiva of each right eye was cut apart about 1.0 cm after surface anesthesia and the skin of back was incised about 2.5 cm length after local anesthesia.The conjunctival and skin lacerations were adhered with compound medical adhesive in the medical glue group,and continuous suture was done to repair the conjunctival laceration and interrupted suture to the skin laceration with 5-0 chorda serica chirurgicalis in the suture group.The routine ophthalmic examination,level of tear secretion,BUT and the states of wound healing were examined 1 day,2 days and 7 days postoperatively.Pathologic examination of the corresponding tissues was also carried out 1 week after the animals were sacrificed.The data were analyzed by SPSS 13.0 statistical software.This experiment followed the Administration of the Care and Use of Experimental Animals of Shanghai City.Results The conjunctival and skin lacerations healed well both in the suture group and the medical glue group.The levels of tear secretion 1 day and 2 days postoperatively in the medical glue group were (12.70±2.21)mm and (12.70±2.00)mm respectively,showing a significant lowness in comparison with (14.90±2.38)mm and (14.90±2.33)mm of the suture group (q =-4.02,P =0.03;q =-4.02,P =0.03).Compared with the baseline,the difference of the levels of tear secretion in the medical glue group was not statistically significant in various time points after operation (P=1.00,1.00,0.51).The BUT values at 2 days and 7 days postoperatively in the medical glue group were (4.50 ± 1.18) seconds and (4.10±0.88) seconds respectively,being significantly longer than (3.30 ± 1.06) seconds and (3.00±1.25) seconds in the suture group (q=4.37,P=0.02;q=4.19,P=0.03).Compared with the baseline,there was not statistically significant difference at each time point postoperatively in the medical glue group (P =0.28,0.59,0.21).However,BUT at each time point after operation in the suture group was significantly shorter than that of the baseline (P=0.01,0.01,0.00).Pathological examination showed that all the conjunctival and skin lacerations healed well.Trivial collagen hyperplasy was seen in the eyes of the suture group and infiltration of a few of inflammatory cells was found in the medical glue group.In the pathological result of the skin test,there was conspicuous scar and severe collagen hyperplasy in the suture group,but in the medical glue group,the skin structure was almost normal.Conclusions α-Cyanoacrylate is safe and effective for the repair of the conjunctival incision with little affection to ocular surface microenvironment. Key words: Medical issue adhesive/α-cyanoacrylate; Conjunctiva; Skin; Ocular surface microenvironment; Tear secretion; Breakup time of tear film