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Mayrhofer-Schmid M, Aman M, Panayi AC, Raasveld FV, Kneser U, Eberlin KR, Harhaus L, Böcker A. Fibrin Glue Coating Limits Scar Tissue Formation around Peripheral Nerves. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3687. [PMID: 38612497 PMCID: PMC11011750 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Scar tissue formation presents a significant barrier to peripheral nerve recovery in clinical practice. While different experimental methods have been described, there is no clinically available gold standard for its prevention. This study aims to determine the potential of fibrin glue (FG) to limit scarring around peripheral nerves. Thirty rats were divided into three groups: glutaraldehyde-induced sciatic nerve injury treated with FG (GA + FG), sciatic nerve injury with no treatment (GA), and no sciatic nerve injury (Sham). Neural regeneration was assessed with weekly measurements of the visual static sciatic index as a parameter for sciatic nerve function across a 12-week period. After 12 weeks, qualitative and quantitative histological analysis of scar tissue formation was performed. Furthermore, histomorphometric analysis and wet muscle weight analysis were performed after the postoperative observation period. The GA + FG group showed a faster functional recovery (6 versus 9 weeks) compared to the GA group. The FG-treated group showed significantly lower perineural scar tissue formation and significantly higher fiber density, myelin thickness, axon thickness, and myelinated fiber thickness than the GA group. A significantly higher wet muscle weight ratio of the tibialis anterior muscle was found in the GA + FG group compared to the GA group. Our results suggest that applying FG to injured nerves is a promising scar tissue prevention strategy associated with improved regeneration both at the microscopic and at the functional level. Our results can serve as a platform for innovation in the field of perineural regeneration with immense clinical potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Mayrhofer-Schmid
- Department of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Hand- and Plastic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Hand and Arm Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Martin Aman
- Department of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Hand- and Plastic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Adriana C. Panayi
- Department of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Hand- and Plastic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Floris V. Raasveld
- Hand and Arm Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, Erasmus University, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ulrich Kneser
- Department of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Hand- and Plastic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kyle R. Eberlin
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Leila Harhaus
- Department of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Hand- and Plastic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Hand Surgery, Peripheral Nerve Surgery and Rehabilitation, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, 67071 Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Arne Böcker
- Department of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Hand- and Plastic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Hand Surgery, Peripheral Nerve Surgery and Rehabilitation, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, 67071 Ludwigshafen, Germany
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Mayrhofer-Schmid M, Klemm TT, Aman M, Kneser U, Eberlin KR, Harhaus L, Boecker AH. Shielding the Nerve: A Systematic Review of Nerve Wrapping to Prevent Adhesions in the Rat Sciatic Nerve Model. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1431. [PMID: 37888042 PMCID: PMC10607771 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13101431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Peripheral nerve pathology is frequently encountered in clinical practice among peripheral nerve and extremity surgeons. One major factor limiting nerve regeneration and possibly leading to revision surgeries is the development of traumatic or postoperative adhesions and scarring around nerves. In experimental models, different materials have been studied to limit scar tissue formation when wrapped around nerves. METHODS A systematic review of studies describing nerve-wrapping materials in a non-transectional rat sciatic nerve model was performed following the PRISMA guidelines. Literature describing nerve-wrapping methods for the prevention of peripheral nerve scarring in rat sciatic nerve models was identified using PubMed and Web of Science, scanned for relevance and analyzed. RESULTS A total of 15 original articles describing 23 different materials or material combinations for nerve wrapping were included. The heterogeneity of the methods used did not allow a meta-analysis, thus, a systematic review was performed. Out of 28 intervention groups, 21 demonstrated a preventive effect on scar tissue formation in at least one qualitative or quantitative assessment method. CONCLUSIONS The analyzed literature describes a variety of materials from different origins to limit peripheral nerve scarring and adhesions. Thus, a scar-preventive effect by wrapping peripheral nerves as adhesion prophylaxis seems likely. However, a quantitative comparison of the studies to identify the optimal material or technique is not possible with the diversity of used models and study designs. Therefore, further research needs to be performed to identify the optimal nerve wraps to be used routinely in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Mayrhofer-Schmid
- Department of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Hand- and Plastic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Ludwig-Guttmann-Str. 13, 67071 Ludwigshafen, Germany
- Hand and Arm Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Tess T. Klemm
- Department of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Hand- and Plastic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Ludwig-Guttmann-Str. 13, 67071 Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Martin Aman
- Department of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Hand- and Plastic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Ludwig-Guttmann-Str. 13, 67071 Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Ulrich Kneser
- Department of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Hand- and Plastic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Ludwig-Guttmann-Str. 13, 67071 Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Kyle R. Eberlin
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Leila Harhaus
- Department of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Hand- and Plastic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Ludwig-Guttmann-Str. 13, 67071 Ludwigshafen, Germany
- Department of Hand Surgery, Peripheral Nerve Surgery and Rehabilitation, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, 67071 Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Arne H. Boecker
- Department of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Hand- and Plastic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Ludwig-Guttmann-Str. 13, 67071 Ludwigshafen, Germany
- Department of Hand Surgery, Peripheral Nerve Surgery and Rehabilitation, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, 67071 Ludwigshafen, Germany
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Abstract
Peripheral nerve injuries (PNI) resulting from trauma can be severe and permanently debilitating. Despite the armamentarium of meticulous microsurgical repair techniques that includes direct repair, grafting of defects with autograft nerve, and grafting with cadaveric allografts, approximately one-third of all PNI demonstrate incomplete recovery with poor restoration of function. This may include total loss or incomplete recovery of motor and/or sensory function, chronic pain, muscle atrophy, and profound weakness, which can result in lifelong morbidity. Much of this impaired nerve healing can be attributed to perineural scarring and fibrosis at the site of injury and repair. To date, this challenging clinical problem has not been adequately addressed. In this review, we summarize the existing literature surrounding biological aspects of perineural fibrosis following PNI, detail current strategies to limit nerve scarring, present our own work developing reliable nerve injury models in animal studies, and discuss potential future studies which may ultimately lead to new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark L Wang
- a Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical School , Thomas Jefferson University , Philadelphia , PA , USA.,b Hand Surgery Division , The Rothman Institute, at Thomas Jefferson University , Philadelphia , PA , USA
| | - Michael Rivlin
- a Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical School , Thomas Jefferson University , Philadelphia , PA , USA.,b Hand Surgery Division , The Rothman Institute, at Thomas Jefferson University , Philadelphia , PA , USA
| | - Jack G Graham
- a Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical School , Thomas Jefferson University , Philadelphia , PA , USA
| | - Pedro K Beredjiklian
- a Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical School , Thomas Jefferson University , Philadelphia , PA , USA.,b Hand Surgery Division , The Rothman Institute, at Thomas Jefferson University , Philadelphia , PA , USA
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