Nerve stepping stone has minimal impact in aiding regeneration across long acellular nerve allografts |
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| Authors: | Ying Yan MD PhD Daniel A. Hunter RA Lauren Schellhardt BA Xueping Ee MD Alison K. Snyder‐Warwick MD Amy M. Moore MD Susan E. Mackinnon MD Matthew D. Wood PhD |
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| Affiliation: | Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8238, St. Louis, Missouri, USA |
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| Abstract: | Introduction: Acellular nerve allografts (ANAs) yield less consistent favorable outcomes compared with autografts for long gap reconstructions. We evaluated whether a hybrid ANA can improve 6‐cm gap reconstruction. Methods: Rat sciatic nerve was transected and repaired with either 6‐cm hybrid or control ANAs. Hybrid ANAs were generated using a 1‐cm cellular isograft between 2.5‐cm ANAs, whereas control ANAs had no isograft. Outcomes were assessed by graft gene and marker expression (n = 4; at 4 weeks) and motor recovery and nerve histology (n = 10; at 20 weeks). Results: Hybrid ANAs modified graft gene and marker expression and promoted modest axon regeneration across the 6‐cm defect compared with control ANA (P < 0.05), but yielded no muscle recovery. Control ANAs had no appreciable axon regeneration across the 6‐cm defect. Discussion: A hybrid ANA confers minimal motor recovery benefits for regeneration across long gaps. Clinically, the authors will continue to reconstruct long nerve gaps with autografts. Muscle Nerve 57 : 260–267, 2018 |
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| Keywords: | acellular nerve allograft autograft nerve regeneration peripheral nerve senescence |
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