Affiliations: Department of Hand Surgery, Malmö University
Hospital, Malmö, Sweden | Department of Animal Physiology, Lund University,
Lund, Sweden
Note: [] Corresponding author: Peter Scherman, Department of Hand
Surgery, Malmö University Hospital, S-205 02 Malmö, Sweden. Tel.: +46
40 33 17 25; Fax: +46 40 92 88 55; E-mail: Peter.Scherman@hand.mas.lu.se
Abstract: Purpose: To compare the longitudinal suture model for bridging nerve
defects with direct approximation under tension or with autologuos nerve
grafting. Methods: Seven mm nerve defects in the rat sciatic nerve were
repaired by either of these three methods. Evaluation was performed at twelve
weeks by morphometry of the tibial nerve distal to the repair site and by
weight of the gastrocnemius muscle, an indicator of target reinnervation. Results: The number of nerve fibers and myelin areas in the tibial
nerve were similar for all repair methods as were the weight of the
gastrocnemius muscle. Conclusions: Longitudinal sutures can be used to bridge short nerve
defects and could be an alternative to nerve grafting.
