Sutureless repair of transected nerves using photochemically bonded collagen membranes

Abstract

Peripheral nerve injuries are relatively common with broad-ranging aetiologies that often produce debilitating functional consequences. In its most severe form, nerve trauma involves complete transection of the nerve causing denervation of the target tissue with corresponding functional deficit. While the body possesses an ability to regenerate the severed axons through the mechanism of axon budding, such process is generally incomplete and fails to fully restore sensory and/or motor functions. The outcomes are, among other things, influenced by the surgical repair technique used. For example, standard surgical approach involves suturing the approximated nerve ends, which does not always ensure good alignment and leads to retention of permanent non-absorbable suture material, which often leads to intraneural scarring. Here I have tested a novel sutureless nerve repair technique using a biodegradable collagen membrane bonded with a photochemically activated dye. This process avoids the tissue tension/compression and foreign material retention commonly associated with non-absorbable sutures. In a transected rat sciatic nerve model, this technique has demonstrated superior histological and functional recovery when compared to a standard suturing approach. In future it may form a viable and, potentially, better alternative for surgical treatment of nerve injuries in clinical practice. Additional research will be required to further quantify functional sensory and motor recovery process, as well as histological changes and outcomes in regard to inflammation and regeneration.

Date of Award	2018
Original language	English