Functional assessment of sciatic nerve reconstruction: Biodegradable poly (DLLA-epsilon-CL) nerve guides versus autologous nerve grafts

The aim of this study was to compare functional nerve recovery after recons truction with a biodegradable p(DLLA-epsilon-CL) nerve guide filled with mo dified denatured muscle tissue (MDMT), or an autologous nerve graft. We eva luated nerve recovery using walking track analysis (measurement of the scia tic function index [SFI]) and electrostimulation tests. Functional nerve re covery after reconstruction with a biodegradable p(DLLA-epsilon-CL) nerve g uide filled with MDMT was faster when compared with nerve reconstruction us ing an autologous nerve graft. We conclude that in case of a short nerve ga p in the rat, reconstruction can best be carried out using a p(DLLA-epsilon -CL) biodegradable nerve guide filled with MDMT.