Biodegradable controlled release glass in the repair of peripheral nerve injuries

The experiments in this paper were concerned with the recovery of function and ease of application of an entubulation technique using a biodegradable, controlled release glass tube (CRG) for the repair of a transected peripheral nerve. The peroneal nerves of 15 New Zealand White rabbits were repaired with either a CRG tube filled with freeze-thawed muscle, or a conventional freeze thawed muscle graft (FTMG). These were compared with controls in which a CRG was used to enclose the cut ends of a nerve separated by a 1 cm gap. Electrophysiological and morphometric assessment was carried out 6 months after repair. No statistical difference was found in any test between the FTMG and the CRG tube filled with freeze thawed muscle. The CRG tube and 1 cm gap produced inferior levels of recovery of function when compared with the other two repair groups.