title: Enhancing nerve regeneration across a silicone tube conduit by using interposed short-segment nerve grafts.
abstract: Isolated nerve segments may inherently contain all of the necessary factors required to support regeneration within a silicone tube conduit placed across a nerve gap. Thirty-six adult Lewis rats each weighing approximately 250 g were randomized into three groups. A sciatic nerve gap (13-15 mm in length) was bridged by an empty silicone tube (Group I), a silicone tube containing a short 2-mm interposed nerve segment (Group II), or a nerve autograft (Group III). At 16 weeks postoperatively, no regeneration was observed through the empty silicone tube. In contrast, regeneration across the silicone tube containing the isolated nerve segment was equivalent to that noted through nerve autografts as assessed by histological, electrophysiological, and functional criteria. Thus, an interposed nerve segment will extend the length of successful nerve regeneration through a silicone tube conduit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center/University Presbyterian Neurological Institute, Oklahoma City, USA.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Francel
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Francel
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Mackinnon
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hertl
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004576:Electromyography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007440:Intubation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012828:Silicones; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D012828:Silicones