title: New synthetic prosthesis for peripheral nerve injuries: an experimental pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Even the most modern technology has failed to induce satisfactory functional regeneration of traumatically severed peripheral nerves. Delayed neural regeneration and in consequence, slower neural conduction seriously limit muscle function in the area supplied by the injured nerve. This study aimed to compare a new nerve coaptation system involving an innovative prosthesis with the classical clinical method of sutured nerve coaptation. Besides the time and degree of nerve regeneration, the influence of electrostimulation was also tested.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sciatic nerve was severed in 14 female Göttingen minipigs with an average weight of 40.4 kg. The animals were randomized into 2 groups: One group received the new prosthesis and the other underwent microsurgical coaptation. In each group, according to the randomization a part of the animals received postoperative electrostimulation. Postoperative monitoring and the stimulation schedule covered a period of 9 months, during which axonal budding was evaluated monthly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data from the pilot study indicate that results with the nerve prosthesis were comparable with those of conventional coaptation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that implantation of the nerve prosthesis allows for good and effective neural regeneration. This new and simple treatment option for peripheral nerve injuries can be performed in any hospital with surgical facilities as it does not involve the demanding microsurgical suture technique that can only be performed in specialized centers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria. selman.uranues@medunigraz.at
authors.forename: Selman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uranüs
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bretthauer
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nagele-Moser
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saliba
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tomasch
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rafolt
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Justich
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waldert
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berghold
authors.forename: Reinhold
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kleinert
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Voges
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wiederstein-Grasser
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koch
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001698:Biomedical Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D005260:Female; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D058117:Neural Prostheses; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000601:surgery*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation*