Use of acellular dermal matrix in peripheral nerve reconstruction: an experimental study on rat sciatic nerve defect.

BACKGROUND: In patients with nerve tissue defects, the use of autologous nerve grafts is the standard method of treatment. Alternatives to autologous, nerve grafts have attracted the attention of reconstructive surgeons. In this study, the results of nerve repairs using acellular dermal matrix (ADM) in an experimental rat sciatic nerve defect model are presented.

METHODS: Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into 5 groups: Group 1: control group, Group 2: negative control group ( n  = 6), Group 3: autologous nerve graft group ( n  = 10), Group 4: donor site entubulated with ADM group ( n  = 10); and Group 5: nerve graft entubulated with ADM group ( n  = 10). The animals in each group were evaluated for electrophysiologic functions, gastrocnemius muscle weight and histomorphology on the 3rd and 6th month.

RESULTS: The compound muscle action potential was observed to be distinctly lower in Groups 3, 4 and 5 in comparison to the control group. In Group 4, the gastrocnemius ratio (GCR) values on the 6th month were statistically significantly lower than the GCR values in Group 3 and Group 5, The histological scores and myelinated axonal counts in Group 5 were statistically significantly higher than the values in Group 3 and Group 4.

CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that wrapping ADM around nerve grafts resulted in better outcomes with respect to nerve healing.