Bridging a peripheral nerve defect using collagen filaments

We describe bridging a peripheral nerve defect using collagen filaments ins tead of a tube. Cords of collagen filaments were grafted to bridge 20-mm de fects of rat sciatic nerves. Nerve autografts were grafted as the control. The mean number and the mean fiber diameter of regenerated myelinated axons were approximately 4,800 and 3.3 mum, respectively, in the distal end of t he nerve autograft and approximately 5,500 and 2.3 mum, respectively, in th e distal end of the collagen-filaments nerve guide 8 weeks after surgery. T he mean number and the mean fiber diameter of regenerated myelinated axons were approximately 6,900 and 3.1 mum, respectively, in the distal end of th e nerve autograft and approximately 6,300 and 3.3 mum, respectively, in the distal end of the collagen-filaments nerve guide 25 weeks after surgery. H istologic studies suggested that the collagen filaments guided regenerating axons effectively. This new procedure offers a possible solution for the n eed to sacrifice a healthy nerve and for the shortage of graft material ava ilable for the repair of severed nerves. (J Hand Surg 2001;26A:52-59. Copyr ight (C) 2001 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.).