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Functional recovery after repair of peroneal nerve gap using different collagen conduits

  • Experimental Research - Neurosurgical Techniques
  • Published:
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Abstract

Background

Currently, autologous nerve implantation to bridge a long nerve gap presents the greatest regenerative performance in spite of substantial drawbacks. In this study, we evaluate the effect of two different collagen conduits bridging a peroneal nerve gap.

Methods

Rats were divided into four groups: (1) the gold standard group, in which a 10-mm-long nerve segment was cut, reversed, and reimplanted between the nerve stumps; (2) the CG-I/III group, in which a type I/III collagen conduit bridged the gap; (3) the CG-I, in which a type I collagen conduit was grafted; and (4) the sham group, in which a surgery was performed without injuring the nerve. Peroneal Functional Index and kinematics analysis of locomotion were performed weekly during the 12 weeks post-surgery. At the end of the protocol, additional electrophysiological tests, muscular weight measurements, axon counting, and g-ratio analysis were carried out.

Results

Functional loss followed by incomplete recovery was observed in animals grafted with collagen conduits. At 12 weeks post-surgery, the ventilatory rate of the CG-I group in response to exercise was similar to the sham group, contrary to the CG-I/III group. After KCl injections, an increase in metabosensitive afferent-fiber activity was recorded, but the response stayed incomplete for the collagen groups compared to the sham group. Furthermore, the CG-I group presented a higher number of axons and seemed to induce a greater axonal maturity compared to the CG-I/III group.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that the grafting of a type I collagen conduit may present slight better prospects than a type I/III collagen conduit.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Association Méditerranéenne pour le Développement des Transplantations (AMDT). Grants were provided by Aix-Marseille Université (AMU) and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS). Biom’Up S. A (Saint Priest, France) only provided the collagen conduits. The authors are grateful to Violaine Sevrez for her assistance in Matlab® programming, to Numa Basilio, for his help in statistical analysis and to Yatma Gueye for his help in histological measurements.

Conflict of Interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut des Sciences du Mouvement: Etienne-Jules MAREY, Equipe, Plasticité des Systèmes Nerveux et Musculaire, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Faculté des Sciences du Sport de Marseille, Aix-Marseille Université (AMU) et Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR 7287, CC910 - 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288, Marseille Cedex 09, France

    Vincent Pertici, Jérôme Laurin, Tanguy Marqueste & Patrick Decherchi

  2. Neurobiologie des Interactions Cellulaires et Neurophysiopathologie, Equipe, Plasticité Olfactive et Réparation du Système Nerveux, Faculté de Médecine Nord, Institut Fédératif de Recherche Jean Roche (IFR11), Aix-Marseille Université (AMU) et Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR 7259, 51, boulevard Pierre Dramard, 13916, Marseille cedex 20, France

    François Féron

Authors
  1. Vincent Pertici
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  2. Jérôme Laurin
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  3. François Féron
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  4. Tanguy Marqueste
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  5. Patrick Decherchi
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Correspondence to Patrick Decherchi.

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Pertici, V., Laurin, J., Féron, F. et al. Functional recovery after repair of peroneal nerve gap using different collagen conduits. Acta Neurochir 156, 1029–1040 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-014-2009-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-014-2009-9

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