Experimental study on facial nerve suturing--comparison between epineural and perineural sutures.

A comparison was made between epineural and perineural sutures using the orbicular is oculi branches of facial nerves of 30 cats. Nerve regeneration was slightly reduced with perineural suture without a tube compared with epineural suture with a tube, epineural suture without a tube and perineural suture with a tube, which showed similar results. A good regeneration was observed when approximation was made without tension at both cut ends of the perineurium. When the corresponding funiculus cannot be identified, epineural suture is considered sufficient.