Bridging peripheral nerve defect with chitosan-collagen film.
OBJECTIVE
To seek new method for the treatment of peripheral nerve injury.


METHODS
In rat model with sciatic nerve defect, chitosan-collagen film was sutured into conduit to bridge 5 mm, 10 mm nerve defects. Rats that underwent end-to-end anastomosis were taken as controls. General observation, electrophysiological study, histological study and image analysis were performed at 4, 8, 12 weeks postoperatively.


RESULTS
In 5 mm nerve defects, the quality of nerve regeneration was similar to that of the control group. For 10 mm nerve defect, nerve regeneration was inferior to that of the control group. Chitosan-collagen film obviously degraded at 12 weeks postoperatively.


CONCLUSIONS
Chitosan-collagen film conduit can be used to bridge peripheral nerve defect.
Wei
Xin
X
Center of Emergency Trauma, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai 200120, China. weixin8@public3.sta.net.cn
Lao
Jie
J
Gu
Yu-dong
YD
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002686:Chitin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D048271:Chitosan; D003094:Collagen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries* / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002686:Chitin; D003094:Collagen; D048271:Chitosan