Peroneal nerve reconstruction by using glycerol-preserved veins: histological and functional assessment in rats

PURPOSE: To compare the degree of neural regeneration in rats upon interposition of autologous nerve graft, autogenous vein, glycerol-preserved autogenous vein, and glycerol-preserved allogeneic vein using qualitative and quantitative histological analyses as well as functional assessments. METHODS: Peroneal nerves were reconstructed differently in four groups of animals. Functional assessments were performed pre- and postoperatively for a period of six weeks. After six weeks, the animals were sacrificed and histological evaluations were performed. RESULTS: Histological patterns of autogenous veins without preservation showed pronounced neoangiogenesis and extensive axonal rarefaction, as confirmed by axonal counting and functional assessments. Glycerol-preserved veins had results similar to the control. CONCLUSIONS: Glycerol-preserved autogenous or allogeneic veins showed similar results to autograft results. The autogenous vein (without preservation in glycerol) presented histological and functional outcomes statistically lower than other groups.

Transplantation of fibula with vascular pedicle for fusion of ankle in leprotic drop-foot.

Devascularized bone grafts are pieces of dead bone and they simply serve as scaffolds for new bone to grow and fill the gap, taking a long time when they succeed in doing so. In contrast, vascularized grafts being living tissues have short healing time, great vitality and strong infection-resisting capacity. We report here the successful use of vascularized grafts of the lower end of fibula for fusing the ankle in five leprosy patients.