EFFECTS OF CYANOACRYLATE TISSUE ADHESIVES ON CARTILAGE GRAFT VIABILITY

Cartilage graft fixation using cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives has aide d in the accuracy and stability of these grafts in facial reconstructi ve procedures. To objectively determine how these adhesives affect car tilage viability, freshly harvested cartilage from septoplasty procedu res was bonded in vitro with one of four cyanoacrylate adhesives: Hist oacryl, Bucrylate, Krazy Glue, or Eastman 910 monomer. Viable chondroc ytes will incorporate the sulfur-35 (S-35) isotope in the synthesis of chondroitin sulfate, and is therefore a reliable test of cartilage vi ability. The bonded cartilage specimens were stored from 3 days to 4 w eeks at 4-degrees-C and then were incubated with the S-35 isotope. Aut oradiographs were made and the sections were counterstained. Throughou t the study period, there was no statistical difference in the viabili ty of Histoacryl-bonded specimens as compared to the controls. Specime ns bonded with Bucrylate, Krazy Glue, and Eastman 910 monomer statisti cally demonstrated markedly less viability compared to those bonded wi th Histoacryl at the P = .01 level of significance. Further, the carti lage separated from these latter adhesives at the longer study times, most likely secondary to cartilage devitalization. Histoacryl optimize s graft viability as compared to these other available cyanoacrylate t issue adhesives in vitro.