Acta neuropathologica
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Acta neuropathologica · Sep 2003
Comparative StudyThe effect of combined neurolytic blocking agent 5% phenol-glycerol in rat sciatic nerve.
Combined 5% phenol-glycerol has been used to treat cancer pain or spasticity and as sympathetic blocks. The major clinical problems have been the unpredictable effects on pain and on the duration of the blocks. Previously we have shown that intraneurally injected phenol induces haemorrhagic necrosis as well as dissolving of the nerve fibres. ⋯ An invasion of macrophages into the endoneurium occurred within 1 week after the intraneural and perineural injections and the number of endoneurial macrophages remained high for up to 6 months. The present study shows that glycerol added to phenol diminishes the necrotizing effect of phenol after an intraneural injection. Combined phenol-glycerol-induced nerve injury is reversible and the axons regenerate but residual morphological changes can be observed even after 6 months.