Affiliations: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinanomachi 35, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160, Japan | Department of Experimental Research, Malmö University Hospital, S-205 02 Malmö, Sweden | Division of Hand, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Zurich University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland | Department of Hand Surgery, Malmö University Hospital, S-205 02 Malmö, Sweden
Abstract: Gaps, 10 mm wide, in rat sciatic nerves were bridged by bioartificial nerve grafts consisting of a silicone tube containing seven longitudinally placed synthetic filaments, which were expected to serve as a scaffold for axonal growth. The filaments were made of non-resorbable material (polyamide [Ethilon®]) or resorbable material (polydioxanon [PDS®], polyglactin [Vicryl®] or catgut). The purpose was to study the influence of resorbable materials on axonal regeneration and to choose, in the long term, the best filament material among the four. After 3 and 6 months, histological techniques were used to study the regenerated nerve structure. The total axon number in the nerve segment distal to the silicone chamber was counted in all specimens at 6 months. The histological findings were different depending on the filament materials; all the three resorbable materials showing significantly larger numbers of axons than polyamide (non-resorbable). All materials were covered with several layers of more or less flattened cells. These results indicate that resorbable filaments are superior to non-resorbable filaments when used as a scaffold inside a silicone tube, and polyglactin seems ideal for this purpose.
