Nerve

Damage to peripheral nerve tissue may cause loss of function in both the nerve and the target muscles it innervates. Exposure and direct attachment of healthy nerve tissue on either side of the damaged site allows for optimal outcomes; however, large injuries prohibit tension-free direct repairs (Wilson & Mackinnon 2010). Such cases require tissue replacement to bridge the gap and allow for neural regeneration (Wood et al. 2010, Lundburg et al. 1982). The host-derived autograft is currently the “gold standard” for peripheral nerve repair, providing a bridge for regenerating axons similar to the damaged nerve (Meek & Coert 2007, Schmidt and Leach 2003). However, autograft repairs are limited due to the finite amount of donor nerve tissue available, as well as the potential for neuroma, loss of function, and scarring at the donor site (Taras et al. 2005, Millesi et al. 1990, Millesi 2007)

Figure Legend: F344 retired breeder rats were anaesthetized with Isoflurane and the vastus lateralis and biceps femoris muscles of the left leg were separated exposing the sciatic nerve. The tibial nerve was isolated from the peroneal and sural nerves (Figure 1A). For the autograft control (n=5) group the 10 mm nerve segment was transected, reversed and then coapted to the two newly formed nerve stumps using 9-0 silk suture (Ethicon). In the ENC (n=8) and EFC (n=8) groups the 10 mm nerve segment was removed and the engineered conduit was coapted to the distal and proximal nerve stumps using 9-0 silk suture (Figure 1B).