Irritation test of tissue adhesives for facial prostheses.

BACKGROUND

Adhesives are commonly used to improve the retention of a facial prosthesis to the skin. Although no requirement exists for facial prosthetic adhesives, an adhesive should be nonirritating and nontoxic.

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed the irritative potential of facial prosthetic adhesives by using an in vitro technique for detection of eye-irritating chemicals.

METHODS

Ten adhesives were evaluated by the hens egg test chorioallantoic membrane method. Adhesives were applied to the chorioallantoic membrane in fertilized hen eggs, and the membrane examined by a photomacroscope for injury to the blood vessels. The average irritation score was calculated from the recorded times for the debut of hemorrhage, lysis, and coagulation, and the products were classified as being non, slight, moderate, or strong irritants, based on the irritation score.

RESULTS

The predominant injury to the membrane was coagulation of blood vessels, and the exposure time needed to initiate the reaction was dependent on the composition of the product. Four products were classified as strong irritants, 1 as moderate, and the remaining 5 as slight or nonirritant.

CONCLUSIONS

On the basis of a test for eye irritation, the irritant potential of tissue adhesives varied from non to severe. The most severe reactions were mainly seen in products containing the solvent ethyl acetate.