The Availability of Gore-Tex(R) Tube as Nerve Conduit at the Peripheral Nerve Defect

ABSTRACT

When a large peripheral nerve defect occurs, an autologous nerve graft is the most ideal method of recinstruction. But an autologous nerve graft has many limitations due to donor site morbidities. Many previous focused on finding the ideal nerve conduit. Among them, Gore-Tex(R) has several advantages over other conduits. It can be manipulated to a suitable size, does not collapse easily, and it is a semi- permeable material that contain pores. A round shaped nerve can be newly formed because of its smooth inner surface. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the availability of Gore-Tex(R) tube as a nerve conduit at the peripheral nerve defect in the rat sciatic nerve. The 10 mm nerve gap was made in each group. A Gore-Tex(R) tube filled with skeletal muscle was inserted and autologous nerve graft was harvested, respectively. In the experimental group, we placed a 0.5mm thickness, 30micrometer pored, 1.8mm in diameter and 14mm length tube with skeletal muscle inserted inside. In the control group, the nerve gap was inserted with a rat sciatic nerve. We estimated the results electrophysiologically and histologically to 16 weeks postoperatively. Results in the nerve conduction velocity, total myelinated axon count, myelin sheath thickness and mean nerve fiber diameter, the experimental group was substantially lower than that of the control group, but the statistic difference was not significant (p<0.05). The morphology was very similar in both groups, microscopically. From the above results, We conclude that Gore-Tex(R) qualifies as an ideal nerve conduit. It is suggested that Gore-Tex(R) tube filled with skeletal muscle may, substitute for an autologous nerve graft.