Efficacy of polyglycolic acid (Dexon) microsutures in peripheral nerve anastomoses in the rat: 2. Perineural suture

In 48 rats, bilateral sciatic nerves were severed and perineuriums were resutured with Dexon 10-0 sutures. Animals were sacrificed at days 7, 14, 21, and months 2, 3, and 6. The nerve segments exhibited an acute inflammatory cellular reaction to the sutures during the early period. The inflammation gradually subsided. However, the inflammatory foreign body giant cells still remained around the sutures for as long as 68 days, after which they were not present. In the additional eight rats with nylon suture anastomoses of the perineurium of the sciatic nerves, a foreign body giant cell reaction was present combined with a lymphocytic cellular infiltrate surrounding the suture for 6 months postoperatively. It is concluded that Dexon microsuture is less reactive than nylon in perineural anastomosis of severed nerve.