Laser-activated solid protein bands for peripheral nerve repair: An in vivo study

✍ Scribed by Lauto, Antonio; Trickett, Rodney; Malik, Richard; Dawes, Judith M.; Owen, Earl R.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 314 KB
• Volume: 21
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0196-8092
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-9101(1997)21:2<134::aid-lsm4>3.0.co;2-r

✦ Synopsis

Background and objective:

Severed tibial nerves in rats were repaired using a novel technique, utilizing a semiconductor diode-laser-activated protein solder applied longitudinally across the join. welding was produced by selective laser denaturation of solid solder bands containing the dye indocyanine green.

Study design/materials and methods:

An in vivo study, using 48 adult male wistar rats, compared conventional microsuture-repaired tibial nerves with laser solder-repaired nerves. nerve repairs were characterised immediately after surgery and after 3 months.

Results:

Successful regeneration with average compound muscle action potentials of 2.5 +/- 0.5 mv and 2.7 +/- 0.3 mv (mean and standard deviation) was demonstrated for the laser-soldered nerves and the sutured nerves, respectively. histopathology confirmed comparable regeneration of axons in laser- and suture-operated nerves.

Conclusion:

The laser-based nerve repair technique was easier and faster than microsuture repair, minimising manipulation damage to the nerve.