Experimental Study for Peripheral Nerve Reconstruction using Skeletal Muscle and Omentum

Chun, Jae Myeung; Ahn, Byung Woo; Song, Gye Yong; Lee, Sang Youp; Lee, Bong Jin

Abstract

The experimental study for peripheral nerve reconstruction was performed using degenerated skeletal muscle and omentum. At the sciatic nerves of 26 rabbits, about 10mm gaps were made under ketamine anesthesia. Degenerated skeletal muscles were made through the procedure of freezing with liquid nitrogen and thawing in distilled water. And omenta were taken through midline abdominal incisions. On 14 rabbits of experimental group, the nerves were connected with the degenerated skeletal muscles and surrounded with the omenta. On 6 rabbits of control group, the nerve gaps were connected with the degenerated skeletal muscles without surrounding with the omenta. And the other 6 rabbits of control group, the gaps were lets without further treatment. After 3, 6, 9 and 12 weeks, the results were compared using light microscope and transmission electron microscope. There were contractions and fragmentations at the skeletal muscles during the freezing and thawing. There were nerve regenerations through the degenerated skeletal muscles. The nerve tissues of the experimental group were more abundant than the control group using the degenerated skeletal muscles only.