Reza Shahryar Kamrani, MD; Ahmad Mohebbi Ashtiani, MD; Shayan Abdollah Zadegan, MD; Mohammad Hossein Nabian, MD; Masoumeh Firouzi, PhD
Abstract
Background: Electroporation of cells for cancer ablation has gained popularity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of electroporation in nerve injury and neuroma formation.Methods: In an experimental study, the sciatic nerves cut in 38 rats and the repair was studied by dividing them in ...
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Background: Electroporation of cells for cancer ablation has gained popularity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of electroporation in nerve injury and neuroma formation.Methods: In an experimental study, the sciatic nerves cut in 38 rats and the repair was studied by dividing them in 3 groups each group receiving a different treatment. Sixteen rats received electroporation, 16 received end-to-end repair, and 6 “control” rats received no electroporation. The repair and possible formation of neuroma was evaluated by light-microscopy and the function of the nerve was assessed with sciatic functional index (SFI).Results: Complete nerve injury was demonstrated by SFI in the 3 groups, in the first-week evaluation. After 2 weeks, significant recovery of function was seen in the electroporation group and in 4 weeks it was similar to control group. This group reached normal SFI in 5 weeks. The cut and repaired group never reached a normal SFI.Conclusions: The electroporation in the sciatic nerve of rat produces complete functional improvement after nerve injury and possibly could be useful for treating symptomatic neuromas.
Reza Shahryar Kamrani, MD; Masoumeh Firuzi; Mohammad Hosein Nabian; Leila Oriadi Zanjani; Mostafa Shaahrezaee, MD
Abstract
Background: The treatment of large peripheral nerve defect in scarred tissue is still a major challenge. Two-stage grafting with preparation of a smooth bed before grafting is a technique used for tendon or bone defects in the past. We are now reporting such a technique for large scarred gaps in the ...
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Background: The treatment of large peripheral nerve defect in scarred tissue is still a major challenge. Two-stage grafting with preparation of a smooth bed before grafting is a technique used for tendon or bone defects in the past. We are now reporting such a technique for large scarred gaps in the sciatic nerves of rat.Methods: In each of the 20 female Wister rats, 15 centimeters of the sciatic nerve was excised. The nerve bed was then covered by tetracycline powder to induce scar tissue formation. In half of the rats a silicone tube was sutured into the nerve ends to produce a smooth tunnel for a two-stage grafting. In the second group the cut nerve ends were covered by silicone caps. After 4 weeks each rat received nerve grafting of its sciatic nerve defect from its bilateral median nerves. 15 weeks following the grafting the rats were tested for their sciatic nerve functions, then the nerves were excised for histological evaluation of the nerve regeneration and the scar tissue.Results: The motor and sensory motor function recovery of the nerves, as measured by “External Postural Thrust”, and “Withdrawal Reflex Latency”, were greater in the group that had the grafts replacing the silicone tubes. The histological evaluation also confirmed the presence of more nerve fibers and less scarring in the silicone tube treated group.Conclusions: Two-stage nerve grafting in severely scarred bed can improve the functional results of a nerve graft.
