LASER NERVE REPAIR BY SOLID PROTEIN BAND TECHNIQUE - II - ASSESSMENT OF LONG-TERM NERVE REGENERATION

A total of 18 adult male Wistar rats had left tibial nerve repaired by either the laser-solder technique or a more conventional microsuture technique. The diode laser power was 90 mW and the radiation dose 16 J /mg. Three months postoperatively electrophysiology showed that the av erage compound muscle action potential (CMAP) of the laser repair grou p was not significantly different from the CMAP of the sutured nerves. Light microscopy confirmed regeneration of myelinated axons in both g roups of animals. The laser-solder technique, when used with such para meters, proved to be a reliable method to achieve satisfactory periphe ral nerve anastomosis and nerve regeneration. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc .