effect of fibrin glue compared to primary suture on tracheal repair wound healing: analysis of fibroblasts, collagen, and neovascularization in rabbits

Optimal wound closure techniques are crucial for tracheal repair, yet the superiority of fibrin glue over primary suturing remains uncertain. this study aimed to provide robust histopathological evidence on the comparative effects of fibrin glue and primary suturing on early-stage tracheal healing in a controlled animal model. a randomized controlled trial with two groups was conducted on 30 male new zealand white rabbits undergoing tracheal repair: a control group repaired with primary suturing (n=15) and an experimental group repaired with fibrin glue (n=15). fourteen days post-repair, tracheal samples were examined histologically using hematoxylin–eosin and masson’s trichrome staining. fibroblast maturation, collagen deposition, and neovascularization were scored using a validated system and compared via the mann-whitney u test (α = 0.05). both closure techniques demonstrated equivalent histological outcomes for fibroblast maturation, collagen deposition, and neovascularization in the early phase of tracheal healing, with statistical analysis confirming no meaningful advantage of fibrin glue over primary suturing (p > 0.05 for all parameters). in the early healing phase, fibrin glue demonstrated equivalent efficacy to primary suturing in promoting fibroblast activity, collagen formation, and neovascularization in tracheal repair. these findings suggest that the selection between fibrin glue and primary suturing can be guided by surgical context, resource availability, and cost considerations, without compromising early histological healing. long-term studies are warranted to assess potential differences during later remodeling phases.