Functional assessment of sciatic nerve reconstruction: Biodegradable poly (DLLA-ϵ-CL) nerve guides versus autologous nerve grafts

• Published in: Microsurgery Vol. 19; no. 8; pp. 381 - 388
• Main Authors: Meek, Marcel F., Dijkstra, Jeroen R., Den Dunnen, Wilfred F.A., Ijkema-Paassen, Jos, Schakenraad, Jeff M., Gramsbergen, Albert, Robinson, Peter H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc 1999; Wiley-Liss
• Subjects: Absorbable Implants; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Caproates; Cranial nerves. Peripheral nerves. Autonomic nervous system; Electric Stimulation; Implants, Experimental; Lactones; Male; Medical sciences; Neurosurgery; Peripheral Nerves - transplantation; Polymers; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sciatic Nerve - physiopathology; Sciatic Nerve - surgery; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Transplantation, Autologous; Walking - physiology; Reconstruction; Nervous system diseases; Rat; Biodegradability; Rodentia; Autologous system; Recovery; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Animal; Graft; Extracellular matrix; Comparative study; Sciatic nerve
• ISSN: 0738-1085; 1098-2752
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2752(1999)19:8<381::AID-MICR6>3.0.CO;2-7

The aim of this study was to compare functional nerve recovery after reconstruction with a biodegradable p(DLLA‐ϵ‐CL) nerve guide filled with modified denatured muscle tissue (MDMT), or an autologous nerve graft. We evaluated nerve recovery using walking track analysis (measurement of the sciatic function index [SFI]) and electrostimulation tests. Functional nerve recovery after reconstruction with a biodegradable p(DLLA‐ϵ‐CL) nerve guide filled with MDMT was faster when compared with nerve reconstruction using an autologous nerve graft. We conclude that in case of a short nerve gap in the rat, reconstruction can best be carried out using a p(DLLA‐ϵ‐CL) biodegradable nerve guide filled with MDMT. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. MICROSURGERY 19:381–388 1999