Combined polyglycolic acid tube and autografting versus autografting or polyglycolic acid tube alone. A comparative study of peripheral nerve regeneration in rats

PURPOSE: To compare sciatic nerve regeneration in rats using three different techniques of repair. METHODS: Fifteen isogonics rats were divided into three groups according to the method used to repair a 5-mm long defect created in the sciatic nerve: autogenous graft (Group A), polyglycolic acid tube (PGAt) (Group B), and of the association of PGAt with the graft (Group C). Histological analysis, regenerated myelinated axon number count and functional analysis were used to compare after six weeks. RESULTS: There was no difference in fiber diameter and degree of myelinization presented by Groups A, B and C. Group B presented the lowest number of regenerated axons. The groups did not display any significant functional difference after walking track analysis (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: No differences between the three groups in terms of functional recovery, although there were histological differences among them. .

Polineuropatia devido ao óxido de etileno: registro de caso com estudo clínico, eletrofisiológico e histopatológico / Polyneuropathy caused by ethylene oxide: report of a case with clinical, electrophysiological and histopathological studies

Os autores referem-se a caso de um jovem que, trabalhando em fábrica de esterilizaçäo de artigos médicos e em contato diário com o óxido de etileno, desenvolveu leve polineuropatia sensitivo-motora. Os estudos eletrofisiológicos evidenciaram neuropatia por degeneraçäo axonal. A biópsia do nervo sural mostrou discreta perda de fibras mielínicas e sinais de degeneraçäo e regeneraçäo axonal. Este é o primeiro caso desta afecçäo descrita em nosso meio