Influence of the Combination of Single Fascicle Grafting and Vascular Epithelial Growth Factor on the Nerve Reconstruction in the Rat Sciatic Nerve Injury Model: Experimental Study

Son-Ok Pak; Jun-Song Ryu; Hae-Gum Ro

doi:10.5530/ijcep.2022.9.4.36

Son-Ok Pak Postgraduate School, Pyongyang University of Medical Sciences, Central District, Pyongyang, DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA.
Jun-Song Ryu Department of Plastic Surgery, Pyongyang General Hospital, Taedonggang District, Pyongyang, DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Hae-Gum Ro General Hospital of Traditional Koryo Medicine, Taedonggang District, Pyongyang, DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5530/ijcep.2022.9.4.36

Keywords: Single fascicle grafting, Nerve reconstruction, Sciatic nerve injury model, Vascular endothelial growth factor

Abstract

Background and Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the regeneration effects after sciatic nerve reconstruction with single fascicle grafting + vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) compared with traditional epineural suture. Methods: Sixty-four Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups randomly and created 10-25 mm sciatic nerve defects. In control group, nerve was reconstructed using traditional epineural suture and the rats of the study group were treated with single fascicle grafting + VEGF. At the point of 6 and 12 weeks, testing consisted of sciatic nerve function index (SFI), gastrocnemius muscle weight, toe spread test, pin-prick test was undergone. Results: The rats of 25mm defect subgroup repaired with single fascicle grafting + VEGF demonstrated significantly higher SFI score, toe spread test score, re- innervated muscle weight at the points of 6, 12 weeks. And in the 20, 25 mm defect rats of study group, pin-prick test score were significantly higher than the control group. Conclusion: Single fascicle grafting + VEGF was better to reconstruct long nerve defect compared to epineural suture.