Evaluation of tissue adhesive to contain axonal regeneration in horses.

The study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of a tissue adhesive, n-butyl cyanoacrylate, in containing axonal regeneration in horses, in comparison to two other methods. The findings suggested that there were no significant differences between the three treatments in terms of healing tendency and post-surgery complications.

Methods and Procedure

• The authors carried out bilateral palmar and plantar digital neurectomies (nerve removals) on 10 horses, totaling 80 neurectomies.
• The neurectomies were performed using one of three methods: a simple transection, epineural capping, and injection of n-butyl cyanoacrylate into the epineural sheath to serve as a nerve sealant.

Observation and Assessment

• During the 12-week study period, the horses were regularly assessed for any tenderness around the surgical site and skin sensation at the coronary band in the heel region.
• At the end of the study, the nerve stumps were dissected, and the tissue that had formed on the nerve was measured. Additionally, longitudinal and transverse sections of the nerve endings were studied histologically to examine numerous factors including formation of new axon sprouts (neuromas), degree of Schwann cell proliferation, chronic inflammation, foreign body reaction, retrograde degeneration of nerve bundles, and extent of fibrovascular proliferation.

Results

• No significant drainage or infection was observed at any of the surgical sites over the course of the study.
• The results indicated no significant differences between the three treatments regarding the proportion of legs that displayed tenderness or heel sensation at any of the examined times.
• Furthermore, there were no differences among the three methods concerning the length or width of the fibrous tissue scar on the nerve ends or in the number of sprouting axons from the nerve ends.

Conclusion

• Of the 80 nerves studied, only two did not stay within the epineurium, indicating a high rate of containment for all three methods. Overall, the initial results suggest that there is not a significant difference between using the tissue adhesive and the other two methods for neurectomy in horses regarding healing tendencies and post-surgery complications.