The single-fascicle method of nerve grafting

In this study a single-fascicle technique for neural deficits repair was evaluated using a rat sciatic nerve model. Twenty-four Lewis rats were divided into 4 groups: group 1, 1.5-cm deficit without repair; group 2, conventional autograft; group 3, large-fascicle autograft; and group 4, small-fascicle autograft. Nerve regeneration was evaluated by pin-prick and toe-spread tests. Nerve samples were estimated by histomorphometry. Group 1 presented no recovery. Groups 3 and 4 demonstrated significantly better pin-prick results compared with those from conventional repair. Histology revealed a significantly higher number of axons and myelin thickness in the small-fascicle (2.8 +/- 0.4 x 10(3) axons, 4.22 +/- 0.41 microm) and large-fascicle (5.1 +/- 1.7 x 10(3) axons, 4.62 +/- 0.28 microm) groups compared with the conventional autograft group (2.1 +/- 0.3 x 10(3) axons, 2.93 +/- 0.20 microm). The small-fascicle group had a significantly greater mean axon area (58.59 +/- 15.81 microm2) than the large-fascicle group (29.66 +/- 12.67 microm2) and the conventional group (25.35 +/- 7.52 microm2). In this study, peripheral nerve repair using a single-fascicle graft resulted in faster functional recovery and better morphometric outcome compared with conventional nerve repair.