ABSTRACT
When nerve injury occurs, there are many factors involved that collectively determine the clinical outcome. These factors include the age of the patient, how the nerve injury occurred, the extent of damage to the nerve and the surrounding structures, and the time elapsed since the injury. In addition, the immediate environment of the nerve itself plays a role. Several studies looking at various aspects of suture versus fibrin adhesives in nerve repair have been reported. Becker et al. utilized a rat sciatic nerve model to evaluate traumatic degeneration and regeneration in the proximal nerve segment, Wallerian degeneration and regeneration in the distal segment, and atrophy and regeneration of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. Nerve repairs were performed on the intratemporal facial nerve experimentally on albino rats with either fibrin glue or direct approximation without sutures.
