The use of silicone tubes in end-to-side nerve grafting: an experimental study

Gravvanis, Andreas; Karvelas, Markos; Lykoudis, Efstathios G.; Lavdas, Alexandros A.; Papalois, Apostolos; Patralexis, Charalampos G.; Matsas, Rebecca; Stamatopoulos, Constantinos N.; Ioannovich, John

doi:10.1007/s00238-003-0501-1

Cited by 8 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…We previously demonstrated, in a rat model, that collateral nerve regeneration is feasible through nerve grafts as well as through silicone tubes. 22 Schwann-cell lining of the silicone tubes improved the regeneration rate significantly and ensured a functional outcome very similar to the nerve graft-treated group. Although ''living'' tubes lined with Schwann cells enhanced fiber maturation, they did not ensure nerve regeneration in all cases.…”

Section: à9mentioning

confidence: 71%

“…In our previous studies, in a similar nerve model, we sutured a nerve graft or silicone tube terminolateral to the perineurium of the intact tibial nerve, and its distal end was sutured to the distal peroneal stump. 22 A 100% regeneration rate through nerve grafts was achieved, compared to 40% through hollow silicone tubes. Al-Qattan and Al-Thynan, 7 in the same animal model, sutured a nerve graft or silicone tube terminolateral to the perineurium of an intact nerve, but its distal end was not attached to a distal nerve stump.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The cells emerging from the distal stump rarely migrate more than a few millimeters into the surrounding connective tissue. 34 The presence of a short interstump gap (10 mm) in this experimental model 22 seems to facilitate Schwann-cell migration from the distal stump toward the growth cone, thus supporting regeneration after end-to-side neurorraphy through hollow silicone tubes in 40% of cases.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Taking into account all the recent innovations of neuroscientists and our promising results when using silicone tubes lined with Schwann cells in end-to-side nerve grafting, 22 the present combined in vitro and in vivo study was designed with the intention to enhance collateral nerve regeneration by lining the tubes with genetically modified Schwann cells with increased motility.…”

Section: à9mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although ''living'' tubes lined with Schwann cells enhanced fiber maturation, they did not ensure nerve regeneration in all cases. 22 In order to improve the results of the above study, we decided to further investigate the behavior of the Schwann cell, which has been acknowledged as the key in Wallerian degeneration and subsequent regeneration for over a century. 23 After peripheral nerve injury, Schwann cells can transiently revert from a myelinating to a nonmyelinating phenotype.…”

Section: à9mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of genetically modified Schwann cells with increased motility in end-to-side nerve grafting

et al. 2005

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Taking into account that Schwann-cell (SC) motility is a prerequisite for myelination during peripheral nerve regeneration, the present study was designed with the intention to increase SC motility in vitro and to evaluate the effect of transduced SC on nerve regeneration in vivo, through silicone tubes after end-to-side nerve repair. Our in vitro study demonstrated that SC transduction with the pREV-HW3 retrovirus, encoding for sialyl-transferase-X (STX), significantly increased their motility compared to the control. In the in vivo study, 45 Wistar rats were randomized into three groups of 15 each. In all animals, the left peroneal nerve was severed, and a 10-mm segment was removed. The distal stump of the peroneal nerve was connected end-to-side to a perineurial window in the ipsilateral tibial nerve with either a silicone tube lined with SC (group A) or a silicone tube lined with STX-transduced SC (groups B and C). Fluorescence and light microscopy in group C showed that SCs were viable the first critical 15 postoperative days. After 90 days, light microscopy in group B demonstrated that STX-transduced SCs with increased motility ensured nerve regeneration, through silicone tubes, in all cases. Furthermore, STX-transduced SCs increased significantly fiber diameter and myelin thickness, and most importantly enhanced significantly the functional outcome compared to non-transduced SCs.

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Section: à9mentioning

confidence: 71%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%