SUPERIOR NERVE ANASTOMOSIS USING A LOW-OUTPUT CO2-LASER ON FIBRIN MEMBRANE

Background and Objective: To date, no procedure of laser-aided nerve a nastomosis has yet proved to be consistently superior to suture nerve repair. This study examines a new method for nerve repair using a low output CO2 laser and fibrin membrane to ascertain the efficacy of this method for nerve regeneration in comparison with the suture method. S tudy Design/Materials and Methods: Both sciatic nerves of 42 Wister ra ts were used. The left sciatic nerves were cut and reconnected using 7 0 mW of irradiation on fibrin membrane bridging the nerve stumps, wher eas the right sciatic nerves were repaired with two stitches of epineu ro-fascicular sutures. Results: No deleterious effect of the irradiati on on nerve regeneration was demonstrated at any time after surgery. T he number of myelinated axons larger than 5 mu m in diameter and the m ean diameter of mylinated axons 8 weeks after surgery were significant ly larger in the laser group than those in the suture group (P < 0.05) . Conclusion: The results suggest this new method may be useful and ef fective for clinical nerve repair. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.