We studied the effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on axonal outgrowth in
grafts of sciatic nerves in 40 rats. The sciatic nerve was transsected and
a 10 mm long segment from the opposite side was immediately sutured in as
a nerve graft. Postoperatively 17 animals were treated with 100% oxygen at
3.2 atmospheres absolute pressure for 45 minutes and the treatment was repe
ated at four and eight hours postoperatively and then every eight hours unt
il evaluation. At seven days the axonal outgrowth was evaluated by immunohi
stochemical staining of neurofilaments in the nerve grafts. The axonal outg
rowth was significantly longer in animals treated with hyperbaric oxygen. W
e conclude that hyperbaric oxygen can improve nerve regeneration in sciatic
nerve grafts in rats.