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Comparative study of suture and laser‐assisted anastomoses in rat sciatic nerves
Author(s) -
Benke Timothy A.,
Clark John W.,
Wisoff Peter J.,
Schneider Steven,
Balasubramaniam Chidambaram,
Hawkins Hal K.,
Laurent John,
Perling Lance,
Shehab Anne
Publication year - 1989
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/lsm.1900090611
Subject(s) - fibrous joint , medicine , sciatic nerve , anastomosis , surgery , anatomy , peripheral , microsurgery
Conventional suture repair of peripheral nerves results in a fibrotic reaction that is detrimental to nerve regeneration. As an alternative procedure known as “laser‐assisted” repair, a laser can be used, along with a reduced number of sutures, to reanastomose severed peripheral nerves. To explore the long‐term implications of this technique, the right sciatic nerves of Sprague‐Dawley rats were surgically cut and reanastomosed either by means of four epineurial sutures or two epineurial sutures and CO 2 laser welds. Tensile strength, electrophysiology, histology, and functional studies were performed up to 11 months postoperatively. Tensile strength measurements indicate no long‐term disadvantage with the laser‐assisted technique, although the short‐term tensile strength is lower than with conventional suture repair. The conduction velocities of the repaired nerves were similar for both techniques; however, laser‐assisted repaired nerves were found to have lower stimulation thresholds and reduced branching compared to the suture repaired nerves. The measured functional recovery was similar for both repair techniques.