Intracranial repair of the oculomotor nerve in cats.

A total of 21 cats survived experimental microsurgical craniotomies with demonstration of the third cranial nerve via a previously described subtemporal route. In one cat the nerve was resected and no adequate regeneration was observed after three months. In five cases the nerve stumps of the transected third nerve were glued together with Aron Alpha. The results were unfavourable due to atrophy and scar adhesions. Ten cats were treated with lateral slit silicone cuffs around the transected third nerve to keep the stumps together. Good results were obtained after three months. Fibrin glue was used for approximation of the stumps of the third nerve in five additional cases. This was followed by superior results with good regeneration and reinnervation. In 19 cases clinical investigation, photographic records, EMG and caloric nystagmus tests, as well as histological and necropsy studies, proved regeneration after primary repair of the cut third cranial nerve.