A Novel Atraumatic Polymer-Assisted Peripheral Nerve Repair Device Compared With Microsurgical Neurorrhaphy

Purpose

To evaluate the ability of a polymer-assisted device to repair transected peripheral nerve in comparison to microsuture neurorrhaphy.

Methods

Twenty rat sciatic nerves were transected and repaired using either the polymer-assisted system or microsutures. Peripheral nerve functional recovery was evaluated through nerve conduction analysis performed at 1, 2, and 3 months. The gastrocnemius muscle mass ratio was measured. Peripheral nerve samples were imaged using microcomputed tomography. Local tissue response and nerve repair (including axonal density) were assessed through histology.

Results

No significant differences in functional outcomes were observed between the polymer-assisted system and microsutures. Both groups showed signs of nerve conduction as early as 2 month, which increased by the 3 month end point where muscle regrowth reached 60% of the nonoperated contralateral leg. Microcomputed tomography and histological analysis revealed a trend of increased intraneural fibrosis and a significantly lower axonal density when microsutures were used for the repair (P < .05).

Conclusions

The polymer-assisted system may reduce intraneural fibrosis compared to traditional microsutures, whereas functional recovery was found to be equivalent.

Clinical relevance

The polymer-assisted nerve repair device provides an alternative to microsutures without inducing additional trauma to the damaged peripheral nerve ends because of the nonpenetrative nature of the device.