Premium
Laser‐activated solid protein bands for peripheral nerve repair: An in vivo study
Author(s) -
Lauto Antonio,
Trickett Rodney,
Malik Richard,
Dawes Judith M.,
Owen Earl R.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9101(1997)21:2<134::aid-lsm4>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - in vivo , laser , fibrous joint , histopathology , regeneration (biology) , surgery , sciatic nerve , reinnervation , biomedical engineering , medicine , anatomy , materials science , pathology , biology , optics , physics , microbiology and biotechnology
Background and Objective Severed tibial nerves in rats were repaired using a novel technique, utilizing a semiconductor diode‐laser‐activated protein solder applied longitudinally across the join. Welding was produced by selective laser denaturation of solid solder bands containing the dye indocyanine green. Study Design/Materials and Methods An in vivo study, using 48 adult male Wistar rats, compared conventional microsuture‐repaired tibial nerves with laser solder‐repaired nerves. Nerve repairs were characterised immediately after surgery and after 3 months. Results Successful regeneration with average compound muscle action potentials of 2.5 ± 0.5 mV and 2.7 ± 0.3 mV (mean and standard deviation) was demonstrated for the laser‐soldered nerves and the sutured nerves, respectively. Histopathology confirmed comparable regeneration of axons in laser‐ and suture‐operated nerves. Conclusion The laser‐based nerve repair technique was easier and faster than microsuture repair, minimising manipulation damage to the nerve. Lasers Surg. Med. 21:134–141, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.