Experimental in vivo regeneration of peripheral nerve axons and perineurium guided by resorbable collagen film.

In our previous paper, we reported a marked advantage in using collagen gel matrix available for cell culture in combination with a silicone tube as an effective environment for axonal sprouting during peripheral nerve regeneration. In the present experiment, collagen film was substituted for the silicone tube because of its non-toxicity, biocompatibility and better availability. Also, the surgical procedure was simplified, using a fibrin adhesive system instead of suturing. In the second postoperative week, severed proximal and distal stumps became joined together concomitantly with absorption of the collagen matrix and film. On size-frequency histograms, the diameters of both myelinated and unmyelinated axons at 8 weeks after surgery had recovered to their normal ranges. These findings demonstrate that this procedure of enveloping a collagen matrix and severed nerve stumps in bioresorbable collagen film would be an ideal way of forming a perfect perineurium. The regeneration of peripheral nerve axons resulted in normal thickness of the original nerve bundle without exception, unlike the axons on the control side.