title: Regeneration through nerve isografts is independent of nerve geometry.
abstract: Investigators have theorized that tortuosity in nerve grafts may adversely affect nerve regeneration. This study investigated the effect of graft configuration and redundancy on regeneration across 2.5-cm rat sciatic nerve isografts. Thirty-two Lewis rats were randomized to four nerve grafting groups defined by gap distance and isograft conformation. In Group 1, grafts were interposed into a 2-cm gap, resulting in mild graft redundancy. In Groups 2 and 3, grafts were tacked in sinusoidal or omega-shaped configurations, respectively, to bridge a 0.5-cm gap. In Group 4, grafts were interposed after 1 cm of native sciatic nerve was resected, resulting in no graft redundancy and an interstump distance of 2.5 cm. At 6 weeks, nerve tissue was harvested; subsequent histomorphometric analysis revealed no significant differences in regeneration between groups. These data suggest that regeneration through isografts is independent of the graft geometry and redundancy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kawamura
authors.forename: Tessa A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Hadlock
authors.forename: Ida K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Brenner
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Mackinnon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D051381:Rats