title: The healing effect of silicone gel on sciatic nerve injuries in experimental rat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peripheral nerve repair is often complicated by fibroblastic scar formation, nerve dysfunction, and traumatic neuroma formation. Use of silicone may improve outcomes of these repairs. In this study, we tried to evaluate effectiveness of silicone gel on rats' sciatic nerve repair, axon regeneration and scar formation around and in the nervous tissues.
  
  
  METHODS
  This experimental study was performed on 18 rats. They underwent bilateral sciatic nerve dissection. Then, right and left damaged sciatic nerves were sutured. In left side, silicone gel was applied. Two months later, both sides were evaluated regarding to myelin fiber diameter (µm), total fascicular area (mm(2)), axon diameter (µm), myelin thickness (µm), G- ratio (axon diameter/myelin thickness), connective tissue area, ratio of connective tissue area/fascicular area, neuroma and foreign body formation in liver and lungs and spleen reaction. Results of right and left sides were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Silicone was significantly more effective in increasing myelin thickness in the side that silicone was applied) than the control side. It was not associated with inflammation, scar formation, granuloma, and neuroma formation. No foreign body reaction occurred in liver, spleen and lungs after silicone application; but axonal regeneration did not improve with after its use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to our findings, it seems that silicone application in the cases with significant complications or in the cases that nerve graft is not possible would be an ideal option.
authors.affiliation: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department, Vali-e-Asr Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;
authors.forename: Hamid Reza
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Fathi
authors.affiliation: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department, Vali-e-Asr Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;
authors.forename: Mahdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fathi
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghannadan
authors.affiliation: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department, Vali-e-Asr Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alavion
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;
authors.forename: Kambiz
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamyab
authors.affiliation: Neurology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Khazaipour
authors.affiliation: Experimental Research Center, Institute Cancer, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amanpour
keywords: Axon regeneration; Nerve Repair; Neuroma; Scar Formation; Sciatic; Silicon