COMPARISON OF MACROPORE, SEMIPERMEABLE, AND NONPERMEABLE COLLAGEN CONDUITS IN NERVE REPAIR

Twelve rabbits were used to study functional nerve regeneration throug h macropore, semipermeable, and nonpermeable collagen conduits. Each a nimal underwent a 10-mm bilateral resection of posterior tibial nerve. Lesions were repaired with a macropore collagen tube in one leg, and with a semipermeable or a nonpermeable collagen tube contralaterally. Functional nerve regeneration was evaluated at 6 and 12 weeks post-rep air periods. Functional recovery was assessed by electrophysiologic an alysis of nerve conduction velocity, amplitude of nerve action potenti al, amplitude and area of muscle action potential, and by quantitative and qualitative histologic analysis of myelinated nerve fibers from t he distal nerve stumps. The macropore-collagen-tube group showed signi ficantly greater functional recoveries than semipermeable or nonpermea ble collagen-tube groups, based on electrophysiologic and histologic a nalyses.