RÉSUMÉ
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the feasibility of using polyporus silk fibroin as a kind of novel material for facial nerve regeneration.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The porous silk fibroin conduit was used in the reconstruction of a 5 mm facial nerve gap of SD rat. Chitosan conduit was taken as control group. General observation, electrophysiological study, histological study and image analysis were performed 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks postoperatively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The facial nerve of SD rat regenerated successfully as time passed through. Mean CAP percentage of regenerated nerve in SF conduit was 24.94% +/- 5.73% 8 weeks postoperatively, which had no statistical significance with that of chitosan conduit group (P = 1.125). And the average number of myelinated myelinated nerve fibers in SF conduit was 62. 5 +/- 6. 3, which had statistical significance with that in chitosan conduit group (P = 0.016).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The porous silk fibroin conduit could effectively repair facial nerve defect and improve peripheral nerve functional recovery.</p>