ABSTRACT
It has been shown that a vein graft provides a good environment for axon regeneration
in short nerve gaps. But the use of a vein graft for long nerve gaps is controversial
because veins may collapse, due to their thin walls, and the surrounding scar tissue
can cause constriction. In an attempt to improve results using the vein graft, the
authors conducted the reported experiment by filling the lumen of the vein with collagen
gel. A 15-mm rabbit peroneal nerve defect was bridged with a collagen-filled vein
graft. On the contralateral side, the defect was bridged with the vein alone. When
the regenerated tissue was examined 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks after grafting,
the number and diameter of myelinated fibers were significantly increased, compared
with the control group without collagen gel. This study found that in order to increase
the efficacy of a vein graft for axonal regeneration, collagen gel might be an appropriate
matrix material with which to fill the vein graft.
KEYWORDS
Peripheral nerve - axon - vein graft - collagen gel
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Byung-Ho ChoiD.D.S.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Wonju Christian Hospital
Yonsei University, 162 Ilsan-Dong, Wonju
Kangwon-Do, Korea
