Artificial nerve graft using glycolide trimethylene carbonate as a nerve conduit filled with collagen compared to sutured autograft in a rat model.

A study was conducted to compare the regeneration of rat peroneal nerves across 0.5 cm gaps repaired with artificial nerve grafts (ANG) versus sutured autografts (SAG). The ANG model is composed of a synthetic biodegradable passive conduit made of glycolide trimethylene carbonate (GTMC) filled with a collagen matrix (predominantly Type I collagen, derived from calf skin, and with the telopeptide ends left intact). Axonal regeneration was studied in 11 long-term animals (two at 6 months and nine at 9 months). The nerves were studied by qualitative and quantitative histological, electrophysiological, and functional assays. Axonal regeneration with the ANG was equal to SAGs as measured by axonal diameters, physiological, and functional methods, although the SAG demonstrated statistically higher axonal counts.