Effectiveness of an epineurial barrier in reducing axonal regeneration and neuroma formation in the rat.

Neuroma excision is a common surgical practice that typically leads to axon regeneration and/or Schwann cell overproliferation from the proximal nerve stump. The effectiveness of the epineurium as a barrier to this reaction to nerve severing was studied in 31 rats. The right sciatic nerve was severed in each case. Control groups that had no further treatment displayed typical neuromas with axon regeneration 3, 6, and 8 months postoperatively. Experimental groups that had a "cap" of epineurium microsutured tightly over the proximal stump displayed significantly reduced neuromas up to 8 months postoperatively.