A new method of nerve bridging with a collagen mesothelial tube.
The effectiveness of a collagen mesothelial tube for nerve bridging was investigated in an experimental model of repair of rat sciatic nerves. The right sciatic nerve was cut, the two stumps were reflected and a collagen mesothelial tube was placed in the gap. The rod was removed at 4 weeks after implantation. At this point, the "bridging" was performed with a 10-mm gap (Group M). Two control groups were similarly treated but one with a collagen tube (Group C) and the other with a silicone tube (Group S). Regeneration of the sciatic nerves was assessed using a sciatic function index, by measuring blood flow and by the number of regenerated axons at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after bridging. Group M showed significantly better results with respect to all three assessments. The collagen mesothelial tube used in our study appears to be a promising tool for bridging peripheral nerve defects.
Department of Orthopaedics, Wakakusa Daiichi Hospital, Higashi-Osaka City, Japan. k-ryoke@vesta.ocn.ne.jp
K
K
Ryoke
U
U
Nshikawa
M
M
Ochi
Y
Y
Uchio
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen; D004848:Epithelium; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012828:Silicones; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D016138:Walking
D012828:Silicones; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D003094:Collagen