Combined polyglycolic acid tube and autografting versus autografting or polyglycolic acid tube alone. A comparative study of peripheral nerve regeneration in rats.

PURPOSE To compare sciatic nerve regeneration in rats using three different techniques of repair. METHODS Fifteen isogonics rats were divided into three groups according to the method used to repair a 5-mm long defect created in the sciatic nerve: autogenous graft (Group A), polyglycolic acid tube (PGAt) (Group B), and of the association of PGAt with the graft (Group C). Histological analysis, regenerated myelinated axon number count and functional analysis were used to compare after six weeks. RESULTS There was no difference in fiber diameter and degree of myelinization presented by Groups A, B and C. Group B presented the lowest number of regenerated axons. The groups did not display any significant functional difference after walking track analysis (p<0.05). CONCLUSION No differences between the three groups in terms of functional recovery, although there were histological differences among them.