Autogenous standard versus inside-out vein graft to repair facial nerve in rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate autogenous vein grafts and inside-out vein grafts as conduits for the defects repair in the rabbit facial nerves.


METHODS
The 10 mm segments of buccal division of facial nerve were transected for 48 rabbits in this study. Then the gaps were immediately repaired by autogenous vein grafts or inside-out vein grafts in different groups. All the animals underwent the whisker movement test and electrophysiologic test during the following 16 weeks at different time points postoperatively. Subsequently, the histological examination was performed to observe the facial nerve regeneration morphologically.


RESULTS
At 8 weeks after operation, the facial nerve regeneration has significant difference between the experimental group and the control group in electrophysiologic test and histological observation. However, at the end of this study, 16 weeks after operation, there was no significant difference between inside-out vein grafts and standard vein grafts in enhancing peripheral nerve regeneration.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggest that both kinds of vein grafts play positive roles in facial nerve regeneration after being repaired immediately, but the autogenous inside-out vein grafts might accelerate and facilitate axonal regeneration as compared with control.
Tang
Jie
J
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Wang
Xue-mei
XM
Hu
Jing
J
Luo
En
E
Qi
Meng-chun
MC
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D020220:Facial Nerve Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous / Q000379:methods; D014680:Veins / Q000637:transplantation*