title: Stem cell salvage of injured peripheral nerve.
abstract: We previously developed a collagen tube filled with autologous skin-derived stem cells (SDSCs) for bridging long rat sciatic nerve gaps. Here we present a case report describing a compassionate use of this graft for repairing the polyinjured motor and sensory nerves of the upper arms of a patient. Preclinical assessment was performed with collagen/SDSC implantation in rats after sectioning the sciatic nerve. For the patient, during the 3-year follow-up period, functional recovery of injured median and ulnar nerves was assessed by pinch gauge test and static two-point discrimination and touch test with monofilaments, along with electrophysiological and MRI examinations. Preclinical experiments in rats revealed rescue of sciatic nerve and no side effects of patient-derived SDSC transplantation (30 and 180 days of treatment). In the patient treatment, motor and sensory functions of the median nerve demonstrated ongoing recovery postimplantation during the follow-up period. The results indicate that the collagen/SDSC artificial nerve graft could be used for surgical repair of larger defects in major lesions of peripheral nerves, increasing patient quality of life by saving the upper arms from amputation.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grimoldi
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Colleoni
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tiberio
authors.forename: Ignazio G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Vetrano
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cappellari
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belicchi
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Razini
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spagnoli
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pluderi
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gatti
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morbin
authors.forename: Sergio M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gaini
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rebulla
authors.forename: Nereo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bresolin
authors.forename: Yvan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Torrente
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007316:Insemination, Artificial, Heterologous; D008297:Male; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000628:therapy*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011859:Radiography; D051381:Rats; D011923:Rats, Nude; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen