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J Reconstr Microsurg 2013; 29(08): 517-522
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1348033
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Removal of Collagen Nerve Conduits (NeuraGen) after Unsuccessful Implantation: Focus on Histological Findings

Eirini Liodaki
1   Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
,
Inge Bos
2   Institute of Pathology, University of Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
,
Joern A. Lohmeyer
3   Department for Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
,
Oezge Senyaman
1   Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
,
Karl Ludwig Mauss
1   Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
,
Frank Siemers
1   Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
,
Peter Mailaender
1   Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
,
Felix Stang
1   Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

19 December 2012

29 March 2013

Publication Date:
01 July 2013 (online)

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Abstract

Nerve conduits are nonneural, hollow tubular structures designed to bridge the gap of a sectioned nerve, to protect the nerve from scar formation, and to guide the regenerating fibers into the distal nerve stump. In the 8-year experience of our department, four patients aged 14 to 50 years had an unsuccessful implantation of a nerve conduit (NeuraGen, Integra, Plainsboro, NJ). In these four patients, the collagen tubes were replaced by an autogenous nerve graft. The histological specimens showed characteristic histological findings of a scar neuroma without any signs of foreign body reaction in three cases and with minimal foreign body reaction in one case. The collagen nerve tube was completely resorbed in all cases after a time period of 6 to 17 months and could not be detected marco- or microscopically.

To our knowledge, this is the first report in the English and German literature describing the histological characteristics of explanted collagen nerve tubes in humans.

Keywords

NeuraGen - collagen nerve conduit explantations - histological characteristics
 

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