Healing of periodontal flaps following use of MBR 4197 (flucrylate) in rhesus monkeys. A clinical and histological evaluation.

Experimental periodontal surgery was performed on six adult Rhesus monkeys, using the modified Widman flap technique. Each monkey provided four or six segments for flap surgery, and three different experimental time intervals were used. Flaps were immobilized after surgery by conventional sutures or by application of MBR 4197 cyanoacrylate spray. Each animal provided its own contralateral comparison, and the mode of flap immobilization was reversed in the corresponding segments in the other animal of each experimental group. One monkey died approximately 12 hours after surgery, and the other animals were sacrificed at 14, 35 and 180 days. Histological sections were prepared from all operated areas, and examined for the pattern of healing. A special staining technique was used to determine the presence of MBR 4197 within the tissues.