Shielding the Nerve: A Systematic Review of Nerve Wrapping to Prevent Adhesions in the Rat Sciatic Nerve Model

Background: Peripheral nerve pathology is frequently encountered in clinical practice among peripheral and extremity surgeons. One major factor limiting regeneration possibly leading to revision surgeries the development of traumatic or postoperative adhesions scarring around nerves. In experimental models, different materials have been studied limit scar tissue formation when wrapped Methods: A systematic review studies describing nerve-wrapping a non-transectional rat sciatic model was performed following PRISMA guidelines. Literature methods for prevention models identified using PubMed Web Science, scanned relevance analyzed. Results: total 15 original articles 23 material combinations wrapping were included. The heterogeneity used did not allow meta-analysis, thus, performed. Out 28 intervention groups, 21 demonstrated preventive effect on at least one qualitative quantitative assessment method. Conclusions: analyzed literature describes variety from origins adhesions. Thus, scar-preventive by nerves as adhesion prophylaxis seems likely. However, comparison identify optimal technique possible with diversity study designs. Therefore, further research needs be wraps routinely practice.