LIGHT-MICROSCOPIC AND ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC EVALUATION OF SHORT-TERM NERVE REGENERATION USING A BIODEGRADABLE POLY(DL-LACTIDE-EPSILON-CAPROLACTON) NERVE GUIDE

The aim of this study was to evaluate short-term peripheral nerve rege neration across a IO-mm gap, using a biodegradable poly(DL-lactide-eps ilon-caprolacton) nerve guide, with an internal diameter of 1.5 mm and a wall thickness of 0.30 mm. To do so, we evaluated regenerating nerv es using light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and morphe metric analysis after implantation of 12-mm nerve guides in the sciati c nerve of the rat. Evaluation times ranged from 3-10 weeks. Three wee ks after reconstruction, myelinated nerve fibers could be observed in the distal nerve stump. Ten weeks after reconstruction, the regenerati ng nerves already resembled normal nerves. In conclusion, we show that poly(DL-lactide-epsilon-caprolacton) nerve guides can be successfully applied in the reconstruction of severed nerves in the rat model. Fur thermore, we have observed the fastest nerve regeneration described th us far, after reconstruction using a biodegradable nerve guide. (C) 19 96 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.