Comparison of omentum and collagen biomatrix effects on peripheral nerve regeneration

80SUMMARYRemarkable amount of experimental work regarding basic behavior of the neuron after injuryand have been described. However, nerve injuries still represent a major problem. We aimed to studythe effect of tissudura (Baxter, Vienna, Austria) and omentum graft, which has concentrated growthfactors in peripheral nerve healing.Thirty-five male Wistar rats, weighing between 180 to 220 g, were used. The sciatic nerves ofthe right limbs of the rats were used for the surgeries and the left-limb sciatic nerves served as theunoperated control. The animals were separated into four groups: Group 1 was the control group;group 2 was the primary epineural repair group; group 3 was the test group in which the collagenbiomatrix was placed and sutured around the suturing nerve; group 4 was the test group in which theomentum graft was placed and sutured around the suturing nerve. Walking track analysis wasperformed on 30th, 60th and 90th days. Besides, on 90th day electromyographic study was performed.The animals were sacrificed to analyze muscle and nerve tissue histomorphometry. Mann Whitney-Utest was used for the statistical analysis.There was significant difference in muscle weight ratios between the experimental and controlgroups. The results indicated that the group of primary sutures, muscle weight is bigger than the groupof omentum grafts, and the group of collagen biomatrix?s muscle weight is bigger than the group ofprimary sutures. When the mean sciatic function index values in the collagen biomatrix, omentumgraft and the primary epineural repair groups were evaluated, no statistically significant differenceswere detected among the experimental groups. Due to resemblance in the amplitude and thenormalized CMAP area values, the mean nerve velocity values were evaluated. The results indicatedthat the group of primary sutures, the mean nerve velocity values is higher than the group of omentumgrafts, and the group of collagen biomatrix?s the mean nerve velocity values is higher than the groupof primary sutures. Subsequently, the experimental and control groups were compared for the averagenumber of myelinated fibers, diameter of myelin, diameter of axons, diameter of nerves, and for gratios. The comparisons of the diameter of myelin, diameter of nerves and G ratios revealed asignificant difference between the experimental and control groups.The present data clearly show that better recovery was obtained in the collagen biomatrixgroup both functionally and morphologically. To date, no collagen biomatrix and peripheral nerveregeneration has been reported. Our results were contrary to the literature findings about omentum.The results presented were generated in animal experiments and may not be fully applicable to theclinical situation. Further study will help to clarify the relative advantages of collagen biomatrix onperipheral nerve regeneration.