• Heval Selman Özkan, Özlem Karataş Silistreli, Bekir Ergür, and Saime İrkören.
• Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine, Aydın, Turkey.
• Ulus Travma Acil Cer. 2016 Jan 1; 22 (1): 7-11.

BackgroundThere are many studies in the literature combining vein grafts with cell cultures, muscle, tendon, and nerve tissues, but none of them could replace isolated nerve grafts for nerve repair in clinical settings. There are studies in the literature indicating that adipose tissue derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) enhances peripheral nerve healing. Considering these facts, an experimental study was performed in rats based on combining SVF with vein grafts for peripheral nerve defect repairs.MethodsThe study included 30 rats which were divided in three groups. In the first stage, an 8 mm nerve defect was created in tibial nerve of each rat. In Group 1, the defect was reconstructed with nerve graft, in Group 2, the defect was reconstructed with vein graft, and in Group 3, the defect was reconstructed with vein graft filled with SVF solution. After 3 months, the second surgical stage was performed and nerve biopsies were taken. Tissue samples were observed histopathologically.ResultsThere were no statistically meaningful difference between nerve grafts, vein grafts and adipose tissue derived SVF- vein grafts combination groups considering myelin diameter and axonal diameter. Axon count was statistically superior in the nerve graft and study groups when compared to empty vein groups.ConclusionIn conclusion, our results support the usage of stromal vascular fraction-vein graft combination for peripheral nerve defect repairs.

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