• Wei-guo Zhang, De-cheng Lü, Chong-yang Fu, and Wei Qü.
• Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116011, China.
• Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2006 Apr 18;86(15):1065-8.

ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of 3 mm gap bridging repairing neurotmesis with chitosan sustained-release FK506 incorporated conduits.MethodsForty-five adult male SD rats were divided randomly into 3 groups. The rats were received a neurotomy to bilateral sciatic nerve and subsequently reconnected with regeneration chambers. The bridging conduits of group A, B and C were made of silicon tube, chitosan and chitosan sustained-release FK506 incorporated respectively. Conduits absorption and surrounding tissue cicatrization were observed at 6, 8 and 12 weeks after neurotomy. The nerve regeneration and functional recovery were evaluated by electrophysiology, histological changes, morphometric analysis, and weighing of gastrocnemius muscles.ResultsThe silicon tubes of group A adhered severely with surrounding tissue. Bridging grafts of group B and C adhered relatively slightly and could be stripped easily from surrounding tissue. The regeneration chambers still existed fully at 6 weeks and began to be degraded at 8 weeks after neurotomy. The bridging grafts of group B and C were disintegrated at 12 weeks and the continuity of sciatic nerve was established without obvious adhesion with surrounding tissue. The statistical evaluation for nerve regeneration demonstrated that rats of group C showed the best results. Although rats of group B and A were found to be the second and the third respectively, there is no significant difference between them.ConclusionRemaining 3 mm gap bridging repairing rat sciatic nerve with chitosan sustained-release FK506 incorporated conduits, which stabilize for more than 2 months before degradation in vivo, can significantly promote nerve regeneration and facilitate function recovery without adverse effects.

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