The healing of hamster skin ulcers treated with n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (Histoacryl blue).

This study was undertaken to examine the effectiveness of a commercially available n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (Histoacryl blue+) as a local treatment for cutaneous ulcers. Two ulcers, approximately 0.5 cm2 each, were made on the backs of 30 hamsters. The right side was covered with a thin film of tissue adhesive, while the left side was left untreated as a control. Animals were sacrificed at various times post-operatively, the tissue excised, processed, and examined with the light microscope. Results showed that cyanoacrylate decreased the inflammatory exudate early in the experiment, and epithelial migration occurred slightly earlier in experimental tissue. Scab formation was absent in experimental sites until the layer of adhesive was lost. After 2 days, healing was comparable in both experimental and control, and the sites were indistinguishable histologically at day 5.