Can local supply of bone marrow mononuclear cells improve the outcome from late tubular repair of human median and ulnar nerves?
The purpose of this non-randomised retrospective study was to compare nerve regeneration after reconnection with silicone tubes with two different strategies. A total of 44 patients with injured median or ulnar nerves in the forearm were surgically treated. In one group of patients, a silicone tube alone was placed in the nerve gap. In a second group, the silicone tube was filled with autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells obtained by aspiration from the iliac crest. Motor function, sensation and the effect of pain on function were assessed 1 year after surgery. The tubes filled with bone marrow cells showed better recovery than the empty tubes. The use of bone marrow mononuclear cells in addition to tube re-connection may promote better nerve regeneration than conventional tubular repair.
Braga-Silva
J
J
Service of Hand Surgery and Reconstructive Microsurgery, Hospital São Lucas, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul-Porto Alegre, Brazil. jeffmao@terra.com.br
Gehlen
D
D
Padoin
A V
AV
Machado
D C
DC
Garicochea
B
B
Costa da Costa
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012828:Silicones; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
D012828:Silicones