title: Regeneration of peripheral motor nerve gaps with a polyglycolic acid-collagen tube: technical case report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  After previous success in regenerating canine peripheral nerves over 80 mm gaps using a bioabsorbable nerve guide tube, we have extended this method to the treatment of patients experiencing various types of nerve injury. This report describes the treatment of two cases of motor nerve disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  The bioabsorbable nerve tube was a cylindrically woven polyglycolic acid (PGA) tube filled with collagen. A peripheral motor nerve defect (the frontalis branch of the facial nerve) was reconstructed using this PGA-collagen tube in two patients who experienced posttraumatic unilateral eyebrow ptosis for 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five months after surgery, both patients regained their ability to voluntarily lift their eyebrows symmetrically. Electrophysiological examination at 5 months revealed recovery of compound muscle action potential and disappearance of distal latency on the affected side.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first clinical report of motor nerve recovery achieved using the PGA-collagen nerve guide tube. The results suggest that use of a PGA-collagen tube is a promising option for the repair of motor nerve defects.
authors: Department of Orthopedics, Inada Hospital, Nara, Japan.
authors: Yuji
authors: Y
authors: Inada
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Hosoi
authors: Akinori
authors: A
authors: Yamashita
authors: Shigeru
authors: S
authors: Morimoto
authors: Hideaki
authors: H
authors: Tatsumi
authors: Shunsuke
authors: S
authors: Notazawa
authors: Shin-ichi
authors: S
authors: Kanemaru
authors: Tatsuo
authors: T
authors: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000601:surgery*; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011100:Polyglycolic Acid