ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Journal of Neurosurgical Sciences 2003 December;47(4):195-200

Copyright © 2004 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

A reservable antiadhesion barrier gel reduces the perineural adhesions in rats after anastomosis

Isla A., Martinez J. R., Perez-Lopez C., Pérez Conde C., Morales C., Budke M.

Departments of Neurosurgery and Plastic Surgery La Paz University Hospital Autónoma University, Madrid, Spain

Aim. The objective of this experimental study was to assess the effectiveness of ADCON T/N in reducing perinerural adhesions when applied around a previously exposed and then anastomosed peripheral nerve in a rat model.
Methods. Sixteen adult 8-month-old male Wistar rats were used for this study. After the ulnar nerve was exposed bilaterally, the nerves were sectioned and anastomosised. ADCON T/N gel was applied around the nerve suture on 1 limb, while the contralateral limb was left untreated (sham operated control). Treatments were administered according to a randomised schedule revealed to the operator only after the perineural adhesions observed during the 2nd operation had been dissected and complete haemostasis achieved. In other group of 4 Wistar rats, the ulnar nerve was sectioned and the 2 ends connected with a 5 mm silastic tube that was placed bilaterally in each rat but on only one side, chosen randomly, was the nerve treated with ADCON TN and placed within the tube on that side.
Results. Three months after the 1st operation, the same nerves were exposed again in all animals under general anesthesia before microsurgical external neurolysis. The neurolysis sites in 16 rats were evaluated by blinded surgical dissection immediately before death. Parameters examined included: quality of wound healing, possible adverse effects, presence of residual implant material and perineural adhesions. Perineural adhesions around the ulnar nerve were visually scored using a 4-point qualitative scale (Mean 2.81 without gel, and 1.18 with ADCON T/N. p=0.017). There was no evidence of persistence of residual implant material in the ADCON T/N treated sites. No significant difference between the average density of myelinated axons was observed in either group. All ADCON T/N treated rats (4 animals) showed axonal growth through the tube connecting the 2 ends.
Conclusion. ADCON-TN decreased fibrosis around the nerve anastomosis sites and did not impede growth between the severed ends of the axons. If reoperation becomes necessary, a reduction of fibrosis would facilitate access to the old site and decrease the risk of nerve lesions.