Peri-epineurial tissue to supplement laser welding of nerve

The principal difficulty with laser repair of nerves has been the inability to provide enough initial tensile strength to prevent separation of nerve ends. In previous experimental studies, dehiscence rates of laser-repaired nerves ranged between 12 to 25% whereas that for conventional epineurial suture repair was 0%. In our study, sciatic nerves of rats were transected bilaterally. Results of anastomosis by conventional epineurial suture on one side were compared with those of tissue welding by the CO2 laser using peri-epineurial sheath as a structural adjunct on the other side. At the time of reexploration at 7, 12, and 16 weeks, there was no dehiscence in nerves of either the laser with peri-epineurial sheath group or the suture repair groups. Electrophysiological and morphometric values after use of peri-epineurial tissue as an adjunct to tissue welding by the CO2 laser were comparable to those of conventional suture repair.