Study of tibial nerve regeneration in Wistar rats in primary neurorrhaphy with and without gap, wrapped in vein segments

• Published in: Acta ortopedica brasileira Vol. 20; no. 3; pp. 165 - 169
• Main Authors: Bastos Dos Santos, Ewerton, Fernandes, Marcela, Gomes Dos Santos, João Baptista, Mattioli Leite, Vilnei, Valente, Sandra Gomes, Faloppa, Flávio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Sociedade Brasileira de Ortopedia e Traumatologia Regional de São Paulo 2012
• Subjects: Original; Fluorescent dyes; Wistar rats; Tibial nerve; Suture techniques; Nerve regeneration
• ISSN: 1413-7852; 1809-4406
• DOI: 10.1590/S1413-78522012000300006

This study compared nerve regeneration in Wistar rats, using epineural neurorrhaphy with a gap of 1.0 mm and without a gap, both wrapped with jugular vein tubes. Motor neurons in the spinal cord between L3 and S1 were used for the count, marked by exposure of the tibial nerve to Fluoro-Gold (FG). The tibial nerves on both sides were cut and sutured, with a gap on one side and no gap in the other. The sutures were wrapped with a jugular vein. Four months after surgery the tibial nerves were exposed to Fluoro-Gold and the motor neuron count performed in the spinal cord. The results were statistically analyzed by the paired Wilcoxon test. There was a statistical difference between the groups with and without gap in relation to the motor neuron count (p=0.013). The epineural neurorraphy without gap wrapped with jugular vein showed better results for nerve regeneration than the same procedure with gap. Experimental Study .